During the first quarter of 2012-2013 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are receiving timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets; almost 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment; 100 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery well within 182 days; almost 80 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 80 per cent of residents accessed hip and knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and almost 90 per cent of hip fracture surgeries were performed in 48 hours or less.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. During this quarter, 99 per cent of 217 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 9 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 20 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. Wait time data during this quarter demonstrated: 93 per cent of 15 Level 1 cases were completed within 14 days; 100 per cent of 23Level 2 cases were completed in 42 days; and 100 per cent of 41 Level 3 cases were completed in 120 days, which is 62 days sooner than the 182 day benchmark. Median wait times were 1 day for Level 1, 3 days for Level 2 and 15 days for Level 3; the 90th percentile was 8, 28, and 70 days respectively. At the end of June 2012, 20 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,400 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, including nearly 950 procedures on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 69 per cent of 476 first eye cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 69 days; and the 90th percentile was 167 days. In the Central region, 89 per cent of 290 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 60 days; and the 90th percentile was 135 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of the 133 first eye cases were completed within 62 days, which is much sooner than the 112 day benchmark; the median was 13 days; and the 90th percentile was 36 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 67 per cent of the 36 first eye cases were performed within 112 days; the median was 2 days; and the 90th percentile was 365 days. These services were provided by a visiting Ophthalmologist.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter,93 hip replacement surgeries were completed in the province. In the Eastern region,75 per cent of 62 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 103 days; and the 90th percentile was 277 days. In the Central region, 89 per cent of 14 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 72 days; and the 90th percentile was 95 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 12 hip replacements were completed under the benchmark (149 days); the median was 89 days; the 90th percentile was 148 days. In the Labrador- Grenfell region, due to a low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. There were 242 knee joint replacements completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, wait times for knee replacement continue to improve, with 71 per cent of 112 cases completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 124 days; and the 90th percentile was 315 days. In the Central region, 87 per cent of 75 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 87 days; and the 90th percentile was 250 days. In the Western region, 92 per cent of 42 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 87 days; and the 90th percentile was 181 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 13 cases were done within 182 days; the median was 62 days and the 90th percentile was 111 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. One hundred and seven patients required fracture surgery in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 85 per cent of 79 cases were completed within 48 hours; the median wait was 34 hours, 33 minutes and the 90th percentile was 51 hours, 42 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 19 cases were completed in 39 hours, 27 minutes which is sooner than the benchmark of 48 hours. In the Western region, 94 per cent of 21 hip fracture surgeries were completed within benchmark; the median was 26 hours, 23 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 46 hours, 37 minutes. No hip fracture surgeries were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region in this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2012-13 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times- First Quarter (April 1 to June 30, 2012) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
| Breast Screening | Women aged 50-69 every two years |
|
| Cervical Screening | Women, starting at age 18, every three years to age 69 after two normal pap tests. |
|
Data Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: In Labrador-Grenfell region, a low number (DS) of hip replacement surgeries and zero (NS) hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: October 15, 2012