Surgical preference cards have come a long way from when they were index cards filled out in pencil . Today ’ s surgeon preference card often is stored electronically .

What hasn ’ t changed ? Outdated information on the cards .

And that ’ s not good for the hospital or the patient . Inaccurate surgical preference cards are associated with higher direct costs , waste and delays . 1

“ While a preference card alludes to perioperative supplies , it also provides direction to the

surgeon ’ s preferences for procedure medications , patient positioning , room setup and more ,” says Angela Carranza , CST , Medline senior manager , clinical solutions . “ It ’ s everything the surgeon needs in the operating room to make the

surgical procedure flow effectively and successfully .”

Let ’ s take a look at the negative impact of inaccurate preference cards — followed by a solution that addresses those challenges with a data-driven approach .

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