Provincial Wait Times Data
2013-14 Quarter 3: October 1 to December 31
During the third quarter of 2013-2014 (October 1 to December 31), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 92 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, which is consistent with the previous quarter’s strong 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 114 days, which is much sooner than the benchmark of 182 days; 90 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 99 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 90 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 88 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, 97 per cent of 146 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, 72 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed. Wait time data demonstrated: 89 per cent of 11 Level 1 cases were completed within 14 days; 100 per cent of 30 Level 2 cases were completed in 29 days; and 100 per cent of 31 Level 3 cases were completed within 114 days. Median wait times were 1 day for Level 1, 8 days for Level 2 and 23 days for Level 3; the 90th percentile was 15, 28, and 70 days respectively. At the end of September 2013, 17 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,400 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, including 770 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 86 per cent of 421 first eye cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 66 days; and the 90th percentile was 129 days. In the Central region, 88 per cent of 34 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 84 days; and the 90th percentile was 113 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of the 171 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 20 days; and the 90th percentile was 90 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 82 per cent of 22 first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 1 day; and the 90th percentile was 141 days; as the itinerant specialist did not visit to perform cataract cases in the previous quarter.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were just over 110 hip replacement surgeries were completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 98 per cent of 73 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 70 days; and the 90th percentile was 130 days. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 17 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 96 days; and the 90th percentile was 155 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 19 hip replacements were completed within 139 days, which is sooner than the 182 day benchmark; the median was 84 days; the 90th percentile was 136 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 228 knee joint replacement cases completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 96 per cent of 123 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 60 days; and the 90th percentile was 134 days. In the Central region, 84 per cent of 46 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 107 days; and the 90th percentile was 194 days. In the Western region, 85 per cent of 50 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 71 days; and the 90th percentile was 215 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 9 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 29 days; and the 90th percentile was 152 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, 82 per cent of 66 cases were completed in 47 hours and 44 minutes; the median wait was 28 hours and 11 minutes and the 90th percentile was 66 hours and 27 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 20 cases were completed in 47 hours and 32 minutes, which is slightly sooner than the benchmark of 48 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 15 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 41 hours and 13 minutes; 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 3: October 1 to December 31
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador – Fourth Quarter(January 1 – March 31, 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) |
|
|
| Level 3 Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
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| 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 |
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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, no cataract cases (NS) and a low number (DS) of hip replacements, knee replacements and hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: April 22, 2014.
Provincial Wait Time Benchmark Update – Quarter 3: October 1 to December 31 (50 KB)