Hospitals could achieve significant cost savings and reduce waste by optimizing surgical supply lists, according to new research led by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in partnership with Data Science Alliance. The study, published on November 26, 2025, in JAMA Surgery, examined how preference cards—checklists hospitals use to stock operating rooms for surgeries—often contain more items than necessary.
The research team analyzed thousands of surgeries across UC San Diego Health’s urology, surgical oncology, and colorectal departments. They found that many supplies included on preference cards went unused during procedures. Over a five-month period, eliminating these unused items could represent up to $3 million in savings from reduced waste and lower restocking needs.
By applying advanced statistical models to review actual usage data, the researchers created streamlined versions of these supply lists. The updated lists preserved full readiness for surgery while minimizing excess. According to the study authors, this approach can help shorten patient wait times and reduce health care costs.
"We hope this study encourages health systems to take a more data-driven approach to preference card maintenance," said Karandeep Singh, MD, senior author and chief health AI officer at UC San Diego Health. "Optimizing these lists means surgeries are prepared more efficiently and resources are used responsibly, without compromising safety or quality."
Preference cards have traditionally been maintained manually based on individual experience. The current study introduces an evidence-based method using real-world data for efficient and consistent updates.
UC San Diego Health has started implementing the revised supply lists in its surgical settings and is exploring automation options to keep them current. Researchers believe their findings demonstrate how responsible data science can improve hospital operations by cutting waste and supporting better patient care.
