Well, it may be that preference is the norm for in-patient surgeries; but for out patient procedures, I think it would create staffing/scheduling complexity. I live in an area with a large multi-cultural population. Many of the cultures represented follow strict prohibitions about gender and privacy, so I think the hospital found it most feasible to adopt this policy. And surgeons, except in emergency situations, are always privately chosen.

The surgical center was privately owned by a group of doctors. Although I was comfortable with my surgeon, I found the atmosphere to be overwhelmingly a "boys club" in operation.