What's New
Reducing surgical wait times and putting patients first are key priorities for Saskatchewan. We are fast-tracking our efforts to address these priorities.
Specialists, health regions, provider organizations and administrators are working on a plan to ensure that within four years, no Saskatchewan patient waits longer than three months for surgery.
Saskatchewan surgical patients can now use an online Specialist Directory to help them work with their family doctors to choose the most appropriate surgeon. The Directory lists practising surgeons, procedures they perform, and their wait times.
About 27,300 patients were waiting for surgery as of March 31, 2010, approximately 1,100 fewer than three months earlier.
Over the past year, about 77,700 surgeries were performed in Saskatchewan – 1,800 more than in the previous year. Surgical data shows that 84% of surgeries (including emergency cases) are done within six months, and 93% within one year.
Wait times for hip and knee replacement surgeries are dropping. Between March 2009 and March 2010:
- the number of hip/knee patients waiting more than six months dropped 38%
- the number of patients waiting more than one year dropped 62%
About 600 more hip and knee procedures were done this year than the year before, an 18% increase.
The longest waits for non-emergent surgery are in orthopaedics, dental surgery, otolaryngology and neurosurgery. Wait times are shortest for cardiovascular surgery.
Health Region Successes
Orthopaedic Surgery
Regions with orthopaedic surgeons (Saskatoon, Regina Qu’Appelle, Prince Albert Parkland and Five Hills) are using a new provincial clinical pathway for hip and knee surgery patients. The goal is to improve access, care and post-operative outcomes, and increase volumes through improved efficiencies and better managed care.
Saskatoon Health Region, which first introduced these new processes, achieved a 70% drop in the number of patients waiting more than six months, and an 82% drop in the number of patients waiting more than a year.
Prince Albert Parkland completed 32% more hip and knee replacement surgeries this year.
Achievement of Saskatchewan’s target time frames for surgery varies by region.
Priority Level I: 95% within 3 weeks Priority Level III: 90% within 3 months
Priority Level II: 90% within 6 weeks Priority Level IV: 90% within 12 months
Five Hills and Kelsey Trail Health Regions met Priority Level II, III and IV targets. Three health regions (Cypress, Heartland and Prairie North) met both Priority Level III and IV targets. |
