Abstract: Briefly, a medical data system collects data concurrent with performance of a medical procedure. In one example, the medical procedure is a surgery, and a surgical support system collects and presents surgical information concurrent with the surgery's progress. A graphical display in the operating room is used to capture in near real time, what happens in the operating room. Medical personnel in the operating environment use the surgical system to capture detailed information regarding the surgery. The surgical system allows the medical personnel to graphically record key data, which enables a surgical report to be promptly generated. In this way, the surgical system enables the near real time collection and presentation of surgical data, and ensures the data and the surgical report is accurate and complete.