Technology and Innovation

because that card really encompasses multiple areas in the hospital .”

2 . Save time and reduce waste By automating the update process , the software saves time for OR staff who would otherwise spend considerable effort manually revising preference cards . It also minimizes waste by ensuring that only the necessary supplies are prepared for each surgery , reducing the number of unused items that need to be discarded or restocked .

“ A key performance indicator in the industry is on-time starts in the OR ,” says Carranza . “ Why can ’ t we get patients in on time ? One delay can back up the entire flow for the day .”

She adds , “ Knowing what was actually opened helps drive decision making on the back end . It ’ s one thing to read in the electronic preference card what the surgeon needs . It ’ s another to have proof of what ’ s used . That ’ s where you can identify gaps .”

3 . Optimize inventory levels The software uses historical data and real-time consumption patterns to project or influence future needs more accurately . This proactive approach ensures that the OR

Major hospitals across the US collectively throw away at least

a year in unused surgical supplies 2

Operating rooms are responsible for up to 70 % of total hospital waste 3

always has the right number of supplies on hand , preventing both overstocking and stockouts , which can lead to delays and increased costs .

4 . Standardize products and bundles You can access utilization analytics by case or surgeon , including cost comparisons , in an easy-to-use dashboard . This data helps you standardize the products and bundles used across different procedures , departments and surgeons .

Standardization can lead to bulk purchasing discounts , simplified training for staff and consistent quality of care .

“ Materials management leaders aren ’ t the only ones focused on the cost impact of surgery ,” says Carranza . “ Surgical teams are helping standardize supplies and reduce the number of SKUs .”

She provides an example of how comparative analytics help supply chain and clinical leaders . “ Let ’ s say we have 10 doctors in orthopedics doing 10 total hips , and 9 of them are using supplies that cost X number of dollars , but we have one that is over the threshold . If we still have good surgeries and outcomes with those other nine , there ’ s an opportunity to have a conversation about the supplies used and possibly standardize them .”

5 . Improve the surgical experience Surgeons can be confident that all necessary supplies are available , reducing the need for interruptions during procedures . Patients aren ’ t kept under anesthesia longer due to delays . As the day progresses , procedures are less likely to be delayed or cancelled — potentially leading to better patient outcomes . Overall , the software enhances the surgical experience for both the surgical team and the patient .

Hospital surgical preference cards continue to be outdated and inaccurate , leading to consequences for the clinical team , patient and hospital . By using preference card management software offered by your medical supply partner , you can benefit in five primary ways .

References 1 . Scheinker , D ., et al . ( 2021 , January 26 ). The design and evaluation of a novel algorithm for automated preference card optimization . J Am Med Inform Assoc , 28 ( 6 ), 1088-1097 . https :// www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pmc / articles / PMC8661396 / 2 . Incision ( 2023 , November 23 ). The Real Cost of Waste in Surgery . Incision . care . https :// www . incision . care / blog / the-real-cost-of-waste-in-surgery 3 . Braschi , C ., et al . ( 2022 , December ). The impact of waste reduction in general surgery operating rooms . The American Journal of Surgery , 224 ( 6 ), 1370-1373 . https :// www . sciencedirect . com / science / article / abs / pii / S0002961022006675

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18 SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMIZATION Issue 9 / 2024