Using Preference Cards to Support a Thoughtful, Evidence-based Orthopaedic Surgery Practice

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Healthcare Administration
• Supply Chain Management

Background:

• Effective communication of instrumentation needs is crucial for orthopaedic surgeons starting or relocating careers.
• Preference cards are surgeon-specific lists for operating room equipment, often created without formal guidance.
• Current challenges include lack of formal education, opaque costs, complex industry relationships, and inadequate support for preference card optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical need for informed decision-making regarding surgical instrumentation and equipment.
• To identify the multifaceted challenges orthopaedic surgeons face in managing their operating room needs.
• To underscore the importance of optimizing preference cards for improved healthcare outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of current practices in preference card generation and management.
• Review of factors influencing surgeons' equipment choices, including health system and industry dynamics.
• Identification of deficiencies in formal surgical education regarding resource management.

Main Results:

• Surgeons often make critical instrumentation decisions without adequate preparation or formal guidance.
• Lack of transparency in costs and complex industry ties complicate resource utilization.
• Existing health systems offer limited support for optimizing surgeon preference cards.

Conclusions:

• Surgical instrument and resource choices significantly impact operating room costs, efficiency, and waste.
• Intentional decision-making and systematic improvements in preference card management benefit surgeons and healthcare systems.
• Collaboration and innovation are needed to address the complexities of surgical supply chain management.