During the first quarter of 2017-2018 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 88 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, which is on par with the previous quarter’s results. All or 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 100 per cent of all cardiac bypass patients had surgery within 109 days; 89 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 80 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 62 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 93 per cent of hip fracture surgeries were performed in less than 48 hours.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. During this quarter, 100 per cent of 248 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the 28 day benchmark. The time in which half (or the median) of these patients waited to begin treatment was 12 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 21 days.
Cardiac Bypass Surgery
The national benchmark has three tiers: Level 1 within 14 days; Level 2 within 42 days; and Level 3 within 182 days. Nationally, cardiac bypass surgery benchmark data according to the three urgency levels is not comparable, therefore NL will report summary level data for all three levels combined. During this quarter, 100 per cent of 93 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within 109 days, which is much sooner than the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 4 days; and the 90th percentile was 57 days. At the end of June 2017, 35 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Around 1,800 cataract cases were completed in the province this quarter, including more than 800 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 85 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 65 days; and the 90th percentile was 128 days. In the Central region, 84 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 55 days; and the 90th percentile was 131 days. In the Western region, 97 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 28 days; and the 90th percentile was 75 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, the itinerant specialists did not visit to perform cataract cases this quarter.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were close to 160 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 76 per cent of 106 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 104 days; and the 90th percentile was 257 days. In the Central region, 92 per cent of 36 cases were completed in 182 days; the median was 75 days; and the 90th percentile was 176 days. In the Western region, 92 per cent of 15 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 86 days; and the 90th percentile was 152 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 300 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 55 per cent of 190 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 164 days; and the 90th percentile was 293 days. In the Central region, 63 per cent of 42 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 134 days; and the 90th percentile was 225 days. In the Western region, 83 per cent of 52 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 156 days; and the 90th percentile was 204 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 93 per cent of 16 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 33 days; and the 90th percentile was 145 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. There were close to 140 hip fracture surgeries completed in the province this quarter. In the Eastern region, 89 per cent of 85 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and 22 minutes and the 90th percentile was 49 hours and 16 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 26 cases were completed in 39 hours and 11 minutes, which is sooner than the 48 hour benchmark; the median was 8 hours and 5 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 19 hours and 23 minutes. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 22 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 23 hours and 44 minutes and the 90th percentile was 41 hours and 15 minutes. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2017-18 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (April 1 to June 30, 2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Curative Radiotherapy | Within 4 weeks (28 days) of being ready to treat. |
|
| Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG) | Level 1 Within 2 weeks (14 days) |
|
| Level 2 Within 6 weeks (42 days) | ||
| Level 3 Within 26 weeks (182 days) | ||
| Cataract | Within 16 weeks (112 days) for patients who are at high risk. |
|
| Hip Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
| Knee Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
| Hip Fracture Repair | Fixation within 48 hours |
|
Data Source: Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: In keeping with data standards, outliers or cases that do not comply with the standard wait time definitions are excluded from cataract wait time calculations and Eastern and Central Regional Health Authorities are working to address this. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no (NV) hip fracture or cataract surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: December 20, 2017