During the second quarter of 2010-2011: July 1 to September 30, provincial wait time data shows that residents of Newfoundland & Labrador continue to access benchmark procedures within the recommended time frame.
- Nine out of 10 patients commenced radiation treatment within 28 days;
- All or 100% of patients underwent cardiac bypass surgery within 182 days;
- More than 75% of patients accessed cataract surgery within 112 days;
- Nine out of 10 patients underwent hip and knee replacement surgery within 182 days in Central, Western and Labrador-Grenfell regions; and
- Eight out of 10 patients accessed hip fracture surgery within the 48 hour benchmark in Central, Western and Labrador-Grenfell regions.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. Wait time data for this quarter shows that 94% of 196 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the 28 day target. The median or time in which half of these patients began treatment was 14 days, and the 90th percentile range or time in which 90% of these patient began treatment was 26 days.
Cardiac Bypass Surgery
The national benchmark is comprised of three tiers: Level 1 within 14 days; Level 2 within 42 days; and Level 3 within 182 days. Wait times during this quarter were as follows: 100% of 10 Level 1 cases, 88% of 24 Level 2 cases, and 100% of 55 Level 3 cases were completed within the corresponding benchmark targets. Median wait times ranged from 2 days for Level 1, 9 days for Level 2, and 22 days for Level, while the 90th percentile ranged from 9 to 66 to 122 days respectively.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract removal is 112 days. Nearly 1000 cataract cases were carried out in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 77% of 351 the first eye cases were performed in 112 days, while the median was 58 days and the 90th percentile was 162 days. In the Central region, the proportion of the first eye cases completed in 112 days ranged from 52% to 89%, while the median ranged from 80 to 112 days and the 90th percentile range was 113 to 137 days. The decrease in benchmark performance in Central Health region this quarter can be attributed to the retirement of Ophthalmologists. In the Western region, 90% of the first eye cases were completed within the benchmark, while the median was 39 days and the 90th percentile was 108 days. A low number of cases were performed in Labrador-Grenfell region, so data results are suppressed.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, just over 50 hip replacement operations were carried out. In the Eastern region, 59% or 20 of 34 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark, while the median was 144 days and the 90th percentile wait time was 596 days. This shows that a small number of patients waited for over a year and a half for surgery. In the Central region, 100% of 13 hip replacements were performed within the benchmark, while the median wait time was 41 days. In the Western region, 100% of 7 cases were done within 182 days, while the median was 34 days and the 90th percentile was 43 days. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region, so data results are suppressed.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 161 knee replacement procedures were performed. In the Eastern region, 43% or 42 of 98 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark. The median wait time was 205 days, and the 90th percentile was 631 days, which shows that half of these patients waited from seven months to nearly two years for surgery. In the Central region, 100% of 13 cases were done within the benchmark timeframe, while the median wait was 60 days and the 90th percentile was 119 days. In the Western region, 96% of 24 knee replacements were done within 182 days, while the median was 60 days and the 90th percentile was 119 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100% of 5 cases were done this in this quarter, while the median was 42 days and the 90th percentile was 98 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 100 patients required hip fracture surgery in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 59% of 50 cases were carried out within 48 hours, while the median wait was 43 hours and the 90th percentile was 69 hours. In the Central region, 100% of 18 cases were done with benchmark, while the median or half of the cases were performed in less than 8 hours. In the Western region, 82% of 24 hip fracture surgeries were done within 48 hours, while the median was 26 hours and the 90th percentile was 49 hours. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region, so data results are suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2010-11 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30, 2010
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July – September, 2010) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
|
Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: Cataract removal, hip replacement and hip fracture repair data are suppressed for the Labrador Grenfell Health region, as a small volume of cases were performed during this quarter.
Date: February 15, 2011