Task-switching costs in organ transplantation

Switching between different surgeries on the same day can increase patient death rates. It comes down to something called switching cost. Imagine a surgeon does a kidney transplant in the morning, then switches to a completely different organ that afternoon. That mental shift isn't small. Our research shows those same day switches are linked to higher mortality because each procedure requires a different kind of focus, different preparation, and different decisions. So instead of stacking very different procedures back to back, it's safer to space them out and assign them to different surgeons. And if we can predict high risk switches ahead of time, we can schedule smarter and save lives.

academics 0:51 Task-switching costs in organ transplantation

By:

11 May 2026 201

Task switching is part of everyday work, but what does it actually cost us? By examining organ transplant procedures, new research reveals how shifting attention impacts performance in high-pressure environments. Video by Andy Santos using AI for Virginia Tech.

Academics

Campus Experience

Culture

Impact

Research

Global Impact