Cambridge Memorial Hospital is celebrating a new innovation developed in collaboration with the Health AI and Analytics Lab at the University of Waterloo.
The project, called Picktacular, is an artificial intelligence-enabled operating room pick-list decision support system. It was developed with Professor Houra Mahmoudzadeh and her student team, in partnership with CMH Clinical Operating Room, Inventory and Decision Support teams.
Operating room pick-lists help identify the supplies needed for specific surgical procedures. At many hospitals, these lists can vary by surgeon, even for the same procedure. While some variation is clinically needed, small differences across lists can increase the number of supply items, add complexity to the inventory, and make it harder to standardize.
Picktacular is designed to help make variations in supplies easier to see. The platform analyzes operating room pick-lists, visualizes differences across surgeons, and highlights possible consolidation opportunities. It includes dashboards, heatmaps, item comparison tools, pick-list builder features, and an audit trail to support clear and traceable decision-making.
Importantly, Picktacular does not make clinical decisions or prescribe substitutions. Instead, it gives CMH teams better information to support review, discussion and planning. Clinical and purchasing staff remain central to deciding what changes are appropriate.
“This project is a great example of practical innovation shaped by the people who understand the work best,” said Kyle Leslie, Director of Analytics, Innovation and CIO.
“By combining CMH’s clinical and operational experience with the University of Waterloo’s expertise in health artificial intelligence and analytics, we have created a tool with real potential to support more consistent and informed operating room supply management.”
The platform has been delivered to CMH and is currently undergoing review by the Research & Innovation Impact Committee. Once approved, it will be used by the Operating Room and Purchasing Department teams, who were directly involved throughout the development process.
The University of Waterloo student team also earned the Sustainable Design Award for the project, recognizing the work’s practical value and focus on reducing waste and improving system efficiency.
For patients and the community, the potential benefits are indirect but important. Better supply visibility and standardization can help teams manage resources more effectively, reduce avoidable waste, and support smoother behind-the-scenes processes that help surgical teams focus on patient care.
Picktacular reflects CMH’s commitment to workplace innovation, partnership and continuous improvement. It also builds on the hospital’s ongoing relationship with the University of Waterloo, including past collaborative projects supported through the Graham Seed Fund.