Insights from the operating room.
Case studies, industry analysis, and product updates from the PREFcards team and the surgical programs we serve.
Surgeon Preference Cards: Common Questions, Answered by Real OR Experience
From what a preference card actually includes to why it's never quite right, here are the most common preference card questions answered the way frontline OR staff would explain them.
How to Fix and Manage Surgeon Preference Cards (Without Wasting Time or Money)
Outdated preference cards drive supply waste, missing items, and slower case starts. Here's a practical, step-by-step approach to cleaning them up, cutting waste, and building a process that sticks.
Preference Card Optimization Study Reveals Savings Over $3.7 Million
Researchers at UC San Diego studied five years of preference card optimization across a multi-hospital health system and found over $3.7 million in savings — with a 31.1% reduction in unused item costs and fewer mid-surgery add-ons.
Supporting Veterans Administration Operating Rooms Through Technology Partnerships
PREFcards joins the VA's ongoing effort to modernize surgical workflows for veteran care across facilities nationwide.
Why Outdated EHR Systems Are Holding the OR Back
Most EHRs were never built for the OR. Here's what that costs surgical teams every day — and where modern tools fit.
The Impact of Current Tariffs on Surgical Supply Costs
Newly imposed tariffs on imported medical supplies are reshaping hospital and ASC budgets. Here's how the impact is reaching the OR — and what supply chain teams can do to prepare.
What Is Driving ASC Growth in 2025?
Ambulatory surgery centers are on a strong growth trajectory — fueled by an aging population, new procedure approvals, regulatory changes, and technology adoption. Here's what's shaping the ASC landscape this year.
OR Staff Burnout: Causes, Statistics, and What Hospitals Can Do About It
Burnout is hitting OR staff at rates of 50 to 70 percent, and worsening staff shortages are projected through 2034. Here's what's driving the crisis — and what surgical facilities can actually do about it.
Optimizing Surgeon Preference Cards for ROI, Efficiency, and Exceptional Patient Care
Outdated surgeon preference cards quietly drive up hospital costs and OR delays. Here's the 8-step plan to fix them — with documented savings of $1M+ in year one and ROI in 60 to 90 days.
How a 3-OR ENT Surgery Center Identified $160K+ in Annual Savings With PREFcards
Case study: how a single-specialty ENT ambulatory surgery center used PREFcards to standardize tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy preference cards — generating over $160,000 in potential annual savings and a 65× return on investment.
Nevada OR Nurses Gain Big Efficiencies Using PREFcards
Case study: a 12-OR Nevada surgical facility modernized its preference card process with PREFcards, enabling real-time card edits and uncovering $16,046 in cost accuracy improvements across just 20 high-use procedures — with $1.4M in projected annual savings.
Streamlining OR Efficiency: Improve Surgical Practices and Cut Waste
OR waste varies by up to 20% between surgeons performing the same procedure. Here's how better preference card management can close that gap — reducing supply costs, labor, and waste across every case.
Seize the Moment: Revamp Your Surgeon Preference Cards for Enhanced Efficiency
Staff turnover and COVID disruption have left many OR teams reliant on outdated preference cards — driving up supply costs, surgeon frustration, and training overhead. Here's why now is the time to fix them.
PREFcards Identifies 48% Reduction in Supply Costs Across 4 Procedures — Representing 12× ROI
A usage analysis at a Las Vegas ASC found that PREFcards delivered $58,000 in supply cost savings across just four common surgical procedures, representing a 48% cost reduction and 12× return on investment in year one.
Texas ASC Sees 47% Labor Savings with PREFcards for Preference Card Management
Case study: Baylor Scott & White Surgicare in Fort Worth measured PREFcards against paper and EHR-based preference card systems — and found 47% faster card management and a 45% increase in surgeon satisfaction.