In 2025, Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento’s main operating room (MOR) demonstrated the power of interdisciplinary teamwork to enhance patient safety, efficiency, and overall surgical experience. At the heart of this achievement was the comprehensive clean-up and maintenance of surgical preference cards — a critical tool that guides every procedure by detailing patient positioning, required equipment, supplies, implants, medications, and instruments.
This initiative brought together surgeons, OR nurses, scrub techs, Supply Chain, and the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) to ensure accuracy and consistency across thousands of active cards. Preference cards are more than checklists — they safeguard readiness, reduce delays, optimize resource management, and support accurate billing. By refining these cards, we improved efficiency, minimized waste, and created a smoother experience for patients and surgical teams alike.
The process was collaborative from start to finish. Surgeons initiated updates, while OR nurses and scrub techs communicated changes to RN service team leads, who confirmed details and implemented revisions in KP HealthConnect. Weekly assignments by the Assistant Nurse Managers ensured steady progress. We partnered with Supply Chain to validate inventory and remove obsolete items and worked closely with SPD to align instrument sets in Sterile Processing Management.
Their journey began on February 4, 2025, when a champion attended a workshop and shared expertise with 14 RN service team leaders. Together, we launched a systematic review of 14,452 active cards, setting a goal to review 50%, or 7,226 cards, by year-end. As of November 18, we have successfully reviewed 5,591 cards, achieving 77% of our target.
This accomplishment reflects the dedication and synergy of multiple disciplines working toward a common goal: delivering safe, efficient, and cost-effective surgical care. It exemplifies how collaboration drives excellence and reinforces our commitment to patients and the communities we serve.