UCSF Medical Center should undertake a Preference Card review in the operating room.  The goal of this review is to analyze high volume surgical procedures to maximize clinical and financial efficiency.  The Preference Cards for multiple surgeons for similar procedures would be compared with respect to cost and efficiency.  During the review, surgeons sit down together and review preference cards with goals of introducing standardization, best practices and identifying waste. 

As part of this effort, surgeons would be provided with cost information on their Preference Cards for high volume procedures.  It has been shown at other institutions that simply providing price book information to surgeons yields impressive cost savings during the Preference Card review.

We have experts on staff at UCSF that can lead this effort.  Dr. Andy Goldberg (UCSF Director of Rhinology and Sinus Surgery) conducted a Clinical Pathways review in the operating room at the University of Pennsylvania, and Kevin Pattison (UCSF Executive Director of Supply Chain) led a Preference Card review at Alta Bates Medical Center that saved tens of thousands of dollars in cost. The UCSF Healthcare Technology Assessment Program (HTAP) Committee is populated with high volume, engaged surgeons who have expressed an interest in leading this work.