Provincial Wait Times Data
2013-14 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
During the first quarter of 2013-2014 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 93 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, which is consistent with the two previous quarter’s results. Almost 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 100 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within 60 days, which is much sooner than the benchmark of 182 days; 93 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 87 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 91 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 84 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, 98 per cent of 190 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 14 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 25 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. During this quarter, 74 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed. Wait time data demonstrated: 100 per cent of Level 1 cases were completed within 7 days; 100 per cent of Level 2 cases were completed in 42 days; and 100 per cent of Level 3 cases were completed within 60 days, which is much sooner than the 182 day benchmark. Median wait times were 1 day for Level 1, 4 days for Level 2 and 14 days for Level 3; the 90th percentile was 3, 14, and 38 days respectively. At the end of June 2013, 17 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1400 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, including 681 procedures on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 95 per cent of 381 first eye cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 32 days; and the 90th percentile was 94 days. In the Central region, 84 per cent of 146 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 29 days; and the 90th percentile was 114 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of the 149 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 16 days; and the 90th percentile was 55 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 80 per cent of 5 first eye cases were completed by the visiting specialist within 112 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 145 hip replacement surgeries were completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 82 per cent of 91 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 78 days; and the 90th percentile was 216 days. In the Central region, 93 per cent of 25 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 82 days; and the 90th percentile was 131 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 24 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 112 days; the 90th percentile was 137 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 5 cases were completed within 131 days; the median was 55 days; the 90th percentile was 62 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. There were 237 knee joint replacement cases completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 88 per cent of 140 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 80 days; and the 90th percentile was 202 days. In the Central region, 93 per cent of 43 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 82 days; and the 90th percentile was 107 days. In the Western region, 94 per cent of 42 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 91 days; and the 90th percentile was 172 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 12 cases were completed within 146 days; the median was 53 days; the 90th percentile was 69 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. There were just over 100 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 76 per cent of 67 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 33 hours and 20 minutes and the 90th percentile was 55 hours and 16 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 16 cases were completed in less than 20 hours, which is less than half of the benchmark of 48 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 19 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 47 hours and 1 minute; which is also sooner than the 48 hour benchmark. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2013-14 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2013) |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
|
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| Level 3 Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
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| Cataract | Within 16 weeks (112 days) for patients who are at high risk. |
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| Hip Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
| Knee Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
| Hip Fracture Repair | Fixation within 48 hours |
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| Breast Screening | Women aged 50-69 every two years |
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| Cervical Screening | Women, starting at age 18, every three years to age 69 after two normal pap tests. |
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Data Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: In Labrador-Grenfell region, a low number (DS) of hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: October 09, 2013.
Provincial Wait Time Benchmark Update – Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30 (57 KB)