Provincial Wait Times Data
2012-13 Quarter 3: October 1 to December 31
During the third quarter of 2012-2013 (October 1 to December 31), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 91 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, as compared to 89 per cent in the second quarter of this year. Almost 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 100 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the benchmark of 182 days; 90 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 94 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 87 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 85 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, 96 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 1 day, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 22 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: 100 per cent of Level 1 cases were completed within 7 days; 100 per cent of Level 2cases were completed in 42 days; and 100 per cent of Level 3 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark. Median wait times were 1 day for Level 1, 2 days for Level 2 and 14 days for Level 3; the 90th percentile was 3, 8, and 69 days respectively. At the end of December 2012, 16 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 733 procedures on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 82 per cent of 357 first eye cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 47 days; and the 90th percentile was 155 days. In the Central region, 96 per cent of 145 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 14 days; and the 90th percentile was 89 days. In the Western region, 96 per cent of the 212 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 10 days; and the 90th percentile was 59 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 89 per cent of 19 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 1 day; and the 90th percentile was 203 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 116 hip replacement surgeries were completed in the province. In the Eastern region, wait times for hip replacement continue to improve, with 90 per cent of 75 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 84 days; and the 90th percentile was 202 days. In the Central region, 81 per cent of 22 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 60 days; and the 90th percentile was 359 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 18 hip replacements were completed within 162 days; the median was 72 days; the 90th percentile was 159 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. There were 214 knee joint replacements completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, wait times for knee replacement continue to improve, with 78 per cent of 120 cases completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 110 days; and the 90th percentile was 211 days. In the Central region, wait times also improved, with 96 per cent of 37 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 73 days; and the 90th percentile was 162 days. In the Western region, 93 per cent of 45 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 81 days; and the 90th percentile was 177 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 12 cases were completed within benchmark; the median was 31 days; and the 90th percentile was 69 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. There were 137 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 79 per cent of 91 cases were completed within 48 hours; the median wait was 32 hours and 16 minutes and the 90th percentile was 58 hours and 31 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 22 cases were completed in under 24 hours, which is half of the benchmark of 48 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 23 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 35 hours and 39 minutes; which is also sooner that the benchmark. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Cervical Screening
The Provincial Cervical Screening Initiatives Program has modified its benchmark to report the number of women aged 20 to 69 who have had at least one Pap test in a three-year period, as of September 2011. This change is in keeping with the current best practice in Canada and aligns with the National Performance Indicators developed by the Pan-Canadian Cervical Screening Initiative. It also reflects the newly implemented recommendation for cervical screening interval in Newfoundland and Labrador – which is for women who had negative Pap tests three years in a row, with no history of abnormal Pap results, to change their routine screening to every three years. The participation rate in Newfoundland and Labrador during the 2010-2012 calendar years was 69 per cent.
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador 2012-13 Quarter 3 (October 1 to December 31) |
|---|---|---|
| Curative Radiotherapy | Within 4 weeks (28 days) of being ready to treat. |
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| Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG) | Level 1 Within 2 weeks (14 days) |
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| 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) |
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| Knee Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
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| 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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| The number of women aged 20 to 69 who have had at least one Pap test in a three-year period. |
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Data Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: In Labrador-Grenfell region, a low number (DS) of hip replacement and hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: April 30, 2013
Provincial Wait Time Benchmark Update – 2012-13 Quarter 3: October 1 to December 31 (65 KB)