192 - What do I need to pick? : Improving accuracy of surgeons preference cards

Description: Team
At a large teaching institution like New York Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medical Center, it can be difficult to keep track of each surgeons preferences for all of the procedures performed. Preference cards attached to case cards help aid in this problem by listing the supplies and instrument trays needed for each specific case. These preference cards are also attached to the patient's chart and will eventually be how the billing department charges the patient for each supply used. Factors such as new surgeons joining our team, changes in the supplies available, and brand new products that change surgeons preferences, all contribute to preference cards not being accurate.

Preparation and Planning
At our hospital, the scrub person is responsible for picking each supply that is not included in the surgical pack. Due to this, it is crucial that accurate preference cards are available and easy to read. We plan to help increase the accessibility of the preference cards by making them easier to read and more accurate by staying updated. In order to change preference cards, a team member will have to gain access to Epic's "preference card builder" function and learn how to operate the system.

Assessment
While these preference cards are extremely helpful, the format of our hospital's the supply list can be extremely hard to read. There is a need for improvement with the accuracy of the cards as well as how it is written out.

Implementation
Our project's initiative is to continuously improve preference cards as changes arise and to simplify the supply list by typing out each item with instructions and add it to the preference card. We will collaborate with scrub techs and nurses who work with specific surgeons frequently to clarify any needs for improvement on the cards and clarify with surgeons when needed.

Outcome
We have improved preferences cards but still continue to update them as new changes arise. Staff report reduce time picking supplies with better understandings of the cases with more surgeon satisfaction and efficiency of the procedure.

Implications for Perioperative nursing
Having updated and accurate preference cards helps reduce turnover time by having all necessary, equipment and supplies available, allows for a more efficient procedure, and reduce frustration for the surgical team and staff. When new staff starts orientation on our unit, the preference cards are a great tool to learn cases and gain confidence in what supplies are needed for which case.