US Healthcare Expense & Surgery

The United States has the highest per capita cost of healthcare in the world, totaling over $3 trillion last year.  That means that the US healthcare system expenses alone are equivalent to the 5th largest economy in the world. Even more concerning, the rate of spending has increased faster than any other developed country over the past 3 decades, without a comparable improvement in quality of care metrics.

It is estimated that nearly a third of the US healthcare expense, or $900 billion, is related to surgical procedures. That clearly demonstrates an opportunity to change the US healthcare spend trajectory as a whole by reducing any unnecessary costs associated with surgery.  

In the operating room, the surgeon’s preference card is the ‘playbook’ for all of the items needed for a surgery and, typically, the instructions for the surgical team members.  The preference card is also a well-known source of frustration due to its antiquated format and outdated content. In fact, it’s estimated that, each year, the healthcare industry wastes over $5 billion as a result of issues related to the surgeon’s preference card.  Those inaccuracies also result in excess labor on time spent retrieving and restocking items, as well as increased OR door openings due to supply needs, both of which increase surgical cost and may impact patient outcomes.

It’s time to transform the way that care is delivered in the operating room by applying the modern technology that we all already use every day.  This is a key step toward reducing the cost of healthcare in the US, while also ensuring optimal patient outcomes.