NP, I have added a check to verify that the listitem the user is trying to add to the list is not already in the listview, but now the item does not add at all. Maybe this is another VB6 vs. .NET thing?

Code:
  Private Sub btnAddSurgeProcedure(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnAddSurgProcedure.Click


        Dim lvItem As New ListViewItem, strSurgProcedure As String, strSurgPerformed As String, strSurgName As String, strSurgPhone As String, strSurgFacility As String, strSurgPostOp As String, i As Integer

        'remove leading and trailing spaces from the entries and store as a variable
        strSurgProcedure = Trim(txtSurgProcedure.Text)
        strSurgPerformed = Trim(dtpSurgPerformed.Text)
        strSurgName = Trim(txtSurgName.Text)
        strSurgPhone = Trim(txtSurgPhone.Text)
        strSurgFacility = Trim(txtSurgFacility.Text)
        strSurgPostOp = Trim(txtSurgPostOp.Text)

        'set lvitem to the value of the SurgProcedure string
        lvItem.Text = (strSurgProcedure)

        'Set the value of the lvitem subitems
        With lvItem
            .SubItems.Add(strSurgPerformed)
            .SubItems.Add(strSurgName)
            .SubItems.Add(strSurgPhone)
            .SubItems.Add(strSurgFacility)
            .SubItems.Add(strSurgPostOp)
        End With

        'check to see if the procedure already exists in the listview
        For i = 1 To lvSurgProcedures.Items.Count
            If strSurgProcedure = lvSurgProcedures.Items(i).Text Then
                '
                MessageBox.Show("The Surgical Prodcedure you are trying to add is already in the list")
            Else
                'add the lvitem to the listview
                lvSurgProcedures.Items.Add(lvItem)
            End If
        Next