Physician Preference Item (PPI)

What are physician preference items (PPIs)?

Physician preference items are the practical tools that a clinician uses in their daily work routines that have been specifically tagged as their favorite or “preferred” items. These can include anything from rubber gloves to surgical implant materials.

Why are PPIs important in healthcare?

PPIs are often representative of a large portion of a facility’s supply chain budget. This means that those looking to trim costs along the supply chain will need to identify and discuss PPIs to make any budgetary adjustments.

PPIs can be expensive when compared to alternatives with the same or better clinical effectiveness, so it must be made clear why a physician has chosen a particular item over all other options. Any alternatives should be physician-tested and approved before a facility can order them.