Tech in Surgery Prep / Unit 10 TSC 237 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Reading a Preference Card
The idea
A preference card is a surgeon- or procedure-specific list of the supplies, instruments, equipment, medications and positioning a case typically needs.
In practice
Read a card in sections. First, the header: the surgeon, the procedure, and often glove size and type. Second, instruments: the trays and individual instruments to open. Third, supplies: what is opened before the case and what is pulled and kept unopened unless needed. Fourth, sutures and medications, by type and strength. Fifth, equipment, such as the energy device and suction. Sixth, positioning and any setup instructions. Many facilities keep cards electronically; some call them procedure cards or case setup cards.
Where people slip
A card describes what is typical, not what is certain. The surgeon's plan for this patient decides, and a scrub person who sees something on the card that does not fit the scheduled procedure asks before opening it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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