09/07/2026
Preference cards have long been an operational tool. Increasingly, they're also being recognized as a valuable source of insight for improving consistency across surgical services.
A recent study published in JAMA Surgery explored how historical utilization data can be used to optimize preference cards based on what teams actually use during procedures. The findings demonstrate how data-informed preference card management can reduce unnecessary supplies while maintaining surgical readiness.
As surgical techniques evolve, new technologies are introduced, and teams continuously refine their workflows, preference cards naturally need to evolve alongside them. Keeping them current helps create greater consistency, supports smoother workflows, and reduces unnecessary waste, while respecting surgeon autonomy and clinical judgment.
At Incision, we believe this represents an important opportunity for perioperative teams. It's one of the reasons we're developing a new solution to help hospitals identify opportunities for supply standardization, share best practices, and reduce unnecessary supply costs, while keeping perioperative teams and clinical decision-making at the center.
We're curious to hear from perioperative leaders:
How does your organization keep preference cards up to date, and what has been the biggest challenge in maintaining them?
Read the full research here: https://hubs.li/Q04n_T0c0