Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative - Sooner, Safer, Smarter

Saskatchewan is making progress on its plan to transform surgical care for patients.

The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative is striving to improve surgical patients' care experience and ensure that by 2014, all patients have the option of receiving their surgery within three months.

During the first two years of the Surgical Initiative, provincial funding has resulted in steadily declining wait times for patients, and momentum is building for long-term system improvement. Surgical capacity is increasing, operating room processes are being streamlined, and health providers are receiving support to improve clinical practices. By the end of 2012-13, the goal is to provide all patients with the opportunity to have their surgery within six months.

Progress made to date is outlined in the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative's Year Two Progress Report.

Highlights of year two include:

• Seven health regions achieved the year two goal of providing 100 percent of surgeries within 12 months, and one provided 99 percent of surgeries within the target.
  

• Fewer long-waiting surgical patients are on the wait list. The number of patients waiting over 18 months has declined 85 percent since the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative began; the number waiting over 12 months declined 77 percent.

• Improvements have been made to the online Specialist Directory to help physicians and patients choose the most appropriate specialist.

• A spine pathway was introduced to streamline care for patients with back pain.

• Third party delivery of CT services began within the public system in Regina.

• Quality improvement programs are increasing efficiency.

• More specialists are beginning to pool (share) new patient referrals.

• Physician-led work has begun on appropriateness/clinical variation.

• An electronic surgical information system is being used in more hospitals.

The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative was the first major initiative arising from Saskatchewan's 2009 independent Patient First Review, which identified surgical wait times as a key concern for patients and families, and provided recommendations about improving surgical care and reducing wait times. 

The next major initiative arising from the Patient First Review is focusing on strengthening Saskatchewan's primary health care system.

 See left menu for more about the Surgical Initiative.