Dr Tom Heaton
@drtomheaton.bsky.social
UK physician specialising in anaesthesia & intensive care medicine.
Interested in education, human factors, and writing.
Website: thegasmanhandbook.co.uk
Interested in education, human factors, and writing.
Website: thegasmanhandbook.co.uk
Pinned
Tom Heaton | Substack
A dive into the less commonly explored aspects of anaesthesia, critical care, human factors, and education. Click to read Tom Heaton, a Substack publication. Launched 11 minutes ago.
drtomheaton.substack.com
I'm excited to be restarting my medical writing project.
It's been quite some time since I've done it regularly.
You can find my new Substack newsletter at the link below.
Please consider checking it out.
drtomheaton.substack.com?r=534h6&utm_...
It's been quite some time since I've done it regularly.
You can find my new Substack newsletter at the link below.
Please consider checking it out.
drtomheaton.substack.com?r=534h6&utm_...
We want our learning to be difficult.
Not too easy (we don't learn) but not too hard (we can't do it).
We want it to challenge us.
Not too easy (we don't learn) but not too hard (we can't do it).
We want it to challenge us.
September 4, 2025 at 8:52 PM
We want our learning to be difficult.
Not too easy (we don't learn) but not too hard (we can't do it).
We want it to challenge us.
Not too easy (we don't learn) but not too hard (we can't do it).
We want it to challenge us.
Expertise boils down to effective mental representations.
How well can you internalize, organize, and recall vast amounts of information instantly?
How are you actively improving your mental models?
How well can you internalize, organize, and recall vast amounts of information instantly?
How are you actively improving your mental models?
August 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Expertise boils down to effective mental representations.
How well can you internalize, organize, and recall vast amounts of information instantly?
How are you actively improving your mental models?
How well can you internalize, organize, and recall vast amounts of information instantly?
How are you actively improving your mental models?
Don't confuse "doing" with "getting better."
Naive practice often leads to plateaus, not progress.
Are you truly practicing, or just going through the motions?
Naive practice often leads to plateaus, not progress.
Are you truly practicing, or just going through the motions?
August 30, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Don't confuse "doing" with "getting better."
Naive practice often leads to plateaus, not progress.
Are you truly practicing, or just going through the motions?
Naive practice often leads to plateaus, not progress.
Are you truly practicing, or just going through the motions?
Flashcards are one of the core tools for learning.
Here, I look at some of the nuances for getting the most out of them.
drtomheaton.substack.com/p/the-scienc...
Here, I look at some of the nuances for getting the most out of them.
drtomheaton.substack.com/p/the-scienc...
The Science and Art of Flashcards
How to study smarter, not harder
drtomheaton.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Flashcards are one of the core tools for learning.
Here, I look at some of the nuances for getting the most out of them.
drtomheaton.substack.com/p/the-scienc...
Here, I look at some of the nuances for getting the most out of them.
drtomheaton.substack.com/p/the-scienc...
Are you making this common mistake?
Cramming for an exam feels effective because you can pass a test the next day.
But skills and knowledge learned this way decay faster and are less flexible for future use.
Avoid the cram session; embrace the spaced-out study.
Cramming for an exam feels effective because you can pass a test the next day.
But skills and knowledge learned this way decay faster and are less flexible for future use.
Avoid the cram session; embrace the spaced-out study.
August 27, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Are you making this common mistake?
Cramming for an exam feels effective because you can pass a test the next day.
But skills and knowledge learned this way decay faster and are less flexible for future use.
Avoid the cram session; embrace the spaced-out study.
Cramming for an exam feels effective because you can pass a test the next day.
But skills and knowledge learned this way decay faster and are less flexible for future use.
Avoid the cram session; embrace the spaced-out study.
"We have to accept human behaviour the way it is,
Not the way we would wish it to be."
-Don Norman
Not the way we would wish it to be."
-Don Norman
July 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"We have to accept human behaviour the way it is,
Not the way we would wish it to be."
-Don Norman
Not the way we would wish it to be."
-Don Norman
Reposted by Dr Tom Heaton
Come and join the Anaesthesia Reports editorial team!
Applications are due 10 August 2025.
#AnSky
anaesthetists.org/Home/About-u...
Applications are due 10 August 2025.
#AnSky
anaesthetists.org/Home/About-u...
July 17, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Come and join the Anaesthesia Reports editorial team!
Applications are due 10 August 2025.
#AnSky
anaesthetists.org/Home/About-u...
Applications are due 10 August 2025.
#AnSky
anaesthetists.org/Home/About-u...
Reposted by Dr Tom Heaton
Are you familiar with the 7 core values of ‘trustworthiness’ of research
ENhancing TRUSTworthiness in Pain Evidence (ENTRUST-PE) is a comprehensive framework for building trustworthy pain research.
#AnSky #PainSky
doi.org/10.1111/anae...
ENhancing TRUSTworthiness in Pain Evidence (ENTRUST-PE) is a comprehensive framework for building trustworthy pain research.
#AnSky #PainSky
doi.org/10.1111/anae...
July 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Are you familiar with the 7 core values of ‘trustworthiness’ of research
ENhancing TRUSTworthiness in Pain Evidence (ENTRUST-PE) is a comprehensive framework for building trustworthy pain research.
#AnSky #PainSky
doi.org/10.1111/anae...
ENhancing TRUSTworthiness in Pain Evidence (ENTRUST-PE) is a comprehensive framework for building trustworthy pain research.
#AnSky #PainSky
doi.org/10.1111/anae...
Reposted by Dr Tom Heaton
Here is the weekend newly named #MedSkyDebate from Nicholas Chrimes @chrimsey.bsky.social of the #VortexApproach
Do you draw up emergency drugs before every list/case?
If so, what & why?
Be very interesting to see what everyone says!
#AnSky #MedSky
Do you draw up emergency drugs before every list/case?
If so, what & why?
Be very interesting to see what everyone says!
#AnSky #MedSky
a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a window and says everybody stay calm
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a window and says everybody stay calm
media.tenor.com
July 12, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Here is the weekend newly named #MedSkyDebate from Nicholas Chrimes @chrimsey.bsky.social of the #VortexApproach
Do you draw up emergency drugs before every list/case?
If so, what & why?
Be very interesting to see what everyone says!
#AnSky #MedSky
Do you draw up emergency drugs before every list/case?
If so, what & why?
Be very interesting to see what everyone says!
#AnSky #MedSky
I'm doing some more of my writing on Substack.
It'd be great to have you join me there, too.
substack.com/@drtomheaton
It'd be great to have you join me there, too.
substack.com/@drtomheaton
July 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I'm doing some more of my writing on Substack.
It'd be great to have you join me there, too.
substack.com/@drtomheaton
It'd be great to have you join me there, too.
substack.com/@drtomheaton
I'm trying to get back into making some educational material.
Here's my latest approach at videos, this time describing the testing effect.
I'd love your feedback.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Here's my latest approach at videos, this time describing the testing effect.
I'd love your feedback.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Learning to Learn - YouTube
youtube.com
July 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I'm trying to get back into making some educational material.
Here's my latest approach at videos, this time describing the testing effect.
I'd love your feedback.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Here's my latest approach at videos, this time describing the testing effect.
I'd love your feedback.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Learning is all about repetition.
The trick is to make that repetition fun and engaging.
This maximises engagement and progress.
The trick is to make that repetition fun and engaging.
This maximises engagement and progress.
July 7, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Learning is all about repetition.
The trick is to make that repetition fun and engaging.
This maximises engagement and progress.
The trick is to make that repetition fun and engaging.
This maximises engagement and progress.
Hi #medsky,
I'm close to finishing my course on medical mastery.
It looks at the learning skills needed for thriving in this specialty.
I'd love to get some initial feedback, especially from medical students.
Please send me a message if interested
I'm close to finishing my course on medical mastery.
It looks at the learning skills needed for thriving in this specialty.
I'd love to get some initial feedback, especially from medical students.
Please send me a message if interested
July 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Hi #medsky,
I'm close to finishing my course on medical mastery.
It looks at the learning skills needed for thriving in this specialty.
I'd love to get some initial feedback, especially from medical students.
Please send me a message if interested
I'm close to finishing my course on medical mastery.
It looks at the learning skills needed for thriving in this specialty.
I'd love to get some initial feedback, especially from medical students.
Please send me a message if interested
Learning needs a purpose.
Our brains function almost entirely around "why?"
Why am I expending effort to know this?
Why do I need to remember this?
Being clear in our purpose - and creating the learning environment to simulate this - makes the learning stick.
Our brains function almost entirely around "why?"
Why am I expending effort to know this?
Why do I need to remember this?
Being clear in our purpose - and creating the learning environment to simulate this - makes the learning stick.
July 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Learning needs a purpose.
Our brains function almost entirely around "why?"
Why am I expending effort to know this?
Why do I need to remember this?
Being clear in our purpose - and creating the learning environment to simulate this - makes the learning stick.
Our brains function almost entirely around "why?"
Why am I expending effort to know this?
Why do I need to remember this?
Being clear in our purpose - and creating the learning environment to simulate this - makes the learning stick.
What were people's favourite strategies for post graduate exams?
Did you have a clear set of techniques and strategies that you used?
Did you have a clear set of techniques and strategies that you used?
June 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM
What were people's favourite strategies for post graduate exams?
Did you have a clear set of techniques and strategies that you used?
Did you have a clear set of techniques and strategies that you used?
May 14, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Do people feel that they have a clear model/strategy for approaching postgraduate exams?
I don't think I did until quite late.
I don't think I did until quite late.
May 13, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Do people feel that they have a clear model/strategy for approaching postgraduate exams?
I don't think I did until quite late.
I don't think I did until quite late.
If you have an interest in human factors, I'm enjoying this series breaking down the different types.
There are a number of different ways that we can look at our interaction with complex environments, each with different pros and cons.
humanisticsystems.com/2017/08/12/f...
There are a number of different ways that we can look at our interaction with complex environments, each with different pros and cons.
humanisticsystems.com/2017/08/12/f...
humanisticsystems.com
May 8, 2025 at 12:45 PM
If you have an interest in human factors, I'm enjoying this series breaking down the different types.
There are a number of different ways that we can look at our interaction with complex environments, each with different pros and cons.
humanisticsystems.com/2017/08/12/f...
There are a number of different ways that we can look at our interaction with complex environments, each with different pros and cons.
humanisticsystems.com/2017/08/12/f...
Reposted by Dr Tom Heaton
The College, alongside the Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG), the @facultypainmed.bsky.social and cpoc.bsky.social
would like to ensure that anaesthetists are aware that prolonged release opioids are no longer licensed for the treatment of post operative pain.
ow.ly/nV2E50VOCz5
would like to ensure that anaesthetists are aware that prolonged release opioids are no longer licensed for the treatment of post operative pain.
ow.ly/nV2E50VOCz5
Modified release opioid medication
The Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG) would like to ensure that anaesthetists are aware that prolonged release opioids are no longer licensed for the treatment of post operative pain.
ow.ly
May 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The College, alongside the Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG), the @facultypainmed.bsky.social and cpoc.bsky.social
would like to ensure that anaesthetists are aware that prolonged release opioids are no longer licensed for the treatment of post operative pain.
ow.ly/nV2E50VOCz5
would like to ensure that anaesthetists are aware that prolonged release opioids are no longer licensed for the treatment of post operative pain.
ow.ly/nV2E50VOCz5
My latest newsletter reflects on "human error".
There is an increasing focus on how this is one of the more relevant factors in effective healthcare.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/drtomhea...
There is an increasing focus on how this is one of the more relevant factors in effective healthcare.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/drtomhea...
#2 - Human Error
Hi everyone,
open.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
My latest newsletter reflects on "human error".
There is an increasing focus on how this is one of the more relevant factors in effective healthcare.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/drtomhea...
There is an increasing focus on how this is one of the more relevant factors in effective healthcare.
Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/drtomhea...
What are some of the best "human factors" courses that people have done?
Can be virtual or in person.
Can be virtual or in person.
May 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
What are some of the best "human factors" courses that people have done?
Can be virtual or in person.
Can be virtual or in person.
Anaesthetic and critical care emergencies can be difficult to manage.
Using effective non technical skills can help you apply your skills and knowledge more effectively.
Some key ones:
- Shared mental models
- Pre task rehearsal
- Box breathing
- Sterile cockpit
Using effective non technical skills can help you apply your skills and knowledge more effectively.
Some key ones:
- Shared mental models
- Pre task rehearsal
- Box breathing
- Sterile cockpit
May 5, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Anaesthetic and critical care emergencies can be difficult to manage.
Using effective non technical skills can help you apply your skills and knowledge more effectively.
Some key ones:
- Shared mental models
- Pre task rehearsal
- Box breathing
- Sterile cockpit
Using effective non technical skills can help you apply your skills and knowledge more effectively.
Some key ones:
- Shared mental models
- Pre task rehearsal
- Box breathing
- Sterile cockpit