Distributed monitoring and a video-based toolset

Healthcare environment is a prime example of collaborative work, in which work is organized both at the macro-level over days and weeks as well as micro-level over hours and minutes. Coordination is carried out jointly by those who often share the ultimate goal of providing best care to the patient while at the same time have different perspectives. Additionally, uncertainty and contingencies often arise to disrupt the best plans. Based on the phenomenology observed in coordination for day of surgery management, we illustrate strategies employed by healthcare workers to enhance operational robustness and reliability. Based on the insight learned, a video-based toolset was developed and deployed in a Level-I trauma center to enhance distributed monitoring. Initial trials showed that the toolset was highly received.