Abstract: A concordance system for determining that an appropriate surgical or medical procedure is about to be performed on a patient, that has previously been authorized for that patient. The system includes visual inspection and scanning of preselected indicia on labels or cards respectively accompanying the patient, the designated surgeon, and the equipment or medical instruments and materials; and the scanning would be performed immediately prior to performance of a surgical procedure. The preselected indicia on the articles to be scanned or electronically read include: patient information, surgical or medical procedure name, surgeon identification, operating room identification, medical device or material or instrument or apparatus information. The scan or reading results when displayed would verify to the chief surgeon and others that all indicia are present and are consistent with one another.