Human Factors & CRM

In this episode of Medic in the Middle, I’m joined by Specialist Paramedic, university lecturer, and PhD doctoral candidate Jamie Hahn to explore the role of human factors and Crew Resource Management (CRM) in pre-hospital care.

We break down what human factors are, why they matter, and how they influence the decisions paramedics make.

We discuss the origins of CRM in aviation, and why its principles are just as relevant on the road as they are in the cockpit.

We also explore how communication, situational awareness, cognitive overload, hierarchy, fatigue, and decision-making pressures shape patient care in the unpredictable pre-hospital environment.

Jamie shares his academic and frontline perspective, bridging the gap between theory and practice, and highlighting how understanding human factors can make clinicians safer, more effective, and more resilient.

This episode is essential listening for paramedics, student paramedics, and any healthcare professional working in high-pressure environments who wants to better understand why mistakes happen and how we can reduce them.

In this episode, we cover:
• What human factors are and why they matter in pre-hospital care
• The aviation origins of Crew Resource Management (CRM)
• How CRM principles apply directly to paramedic practice
• Decision-making under pressure and cognitive load
• Communication, hierarchy, and team dynamics on scene
• How human factors awareness can improve patient safety

Whether you’re on the road, in training, or just interested in the science behind decision-making in emergency care, this episode offers practical insights grounded in real-world experience and current research.

🎙 Medic in the Middle - real conversations from the frontline of pre-hospital care.