During the fourth quarter of 2010-2011: January 1 to March 31, provincial wait time data shows that residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are continuing to receive timely access to the majority of benchmark procedures. Patients continue to receive timely access to radiation treatment within the 28 day benchmark. Cardiac bypass patients are also receiving surgery within the recommended timeframes. Nearly eight out of 10 patients undergo cataract procedures within 112 days. Patients continue to access hip and knee replacement surgery within 182 days in three regions. While wait times for these procedures continue to be longer in St. John’s, than elsewhere in the province, demand is also greatest there.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. Wait time results for this quarter indicates that 97% of 230 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the 28 day target. The time in which half (or the median) of these patients waited to begin treatment was 20 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 23 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 time data during this quarter was as follows: 100% of 8 Level-1 cases within 7 days; 100% of 21 Level-2 cases were completed in 42 days; and 100% of 50 Level-3 cases were completed within 182 days. Median wait times ranged from 1 day for Level 1, 3 days for Level 2, and 9 days for Level 3, while the 90th percentile was 3, 17, and 35 days respectively.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract removal is 112 days, with more than 1300 cataract cases carried out in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 76% of 469 first eye cases were performed in 112 days, while the median was 59 days and the 90th percentile was 186 days. In the Central region, the proportion of cases completed in 112 days ranged from 77% to 84%, while the median ranged from 82 to 103 days and the 90th percentile range was 124 to 133 days. In the Western region, 99% of the 152 first eye cases were completed within the benchmark, while the median was 16 days and the 90th percentile was 48 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 87% of the 16 first eye cases were performed within 112 days, while the median wait was 2 days and the 90th percentile wait was 153 days, (service provided by a visiting Ophthalmologist).
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, just over 80 hip replacement operations were performed, comparable to the number completed in the third quarter. In the Eastern region, 44% of 51 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark, while the median was 204 days and the 90th percentile wait time was 665 days. In the Central region, 100% of 20 hip replacements were performed within the benchmark, while the median wait time was 69 days and the 90th percentile wait was 114 days. In the Western region, 100% of 11 cases were done within 182 days, while the median was 53 days and the 90th percentile was 104 days. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region; data results are suppressed.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 201 knee replacement procedures were performed, increased from 151 in the third quarter. The largest (51%) increase was in the Eastern region, as 37 more cases were completed in this quarter. Eastern performed, 30% or 33 of 109 cases within the 182 day benchmark. The median wait time was 278 days, and the 90th percentile was 790 days; half of the patients waited between nine months to just over two years for surgery. In the Central region, 100% of 45 cases were done within the benchmark timeframe, while the median wait was 68 days and the 90th percentile was 117 days. In the Western region, 100% of 35 knee replacements were done within 182 days, while the median was 64 days and the 90th percentile was 158 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 86% of 12 cases were done within 182 days, while the median was 48 days and the 90th percentile was 159 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Nearly 100 patients required hip fracture surgery in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 77% of 48 cases were carried out within 48 hours, while the median wait was 31 hours and the 90th percentile was 50 hours. In the Central region, 100% of 23 cases were done within 48 hours, while the median (half of the cases) were performed in less than 6 hours and the 90th percentile was under 29 hours. In the Western region, 100% of 24 hip fracture surgeries were done within 48 hours, while the median was under 29 hours and the 90th percentile was 42 hours. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region; data results are suppressed.
Breast Screening
Biennial participation rates (2009-2010) for organized breast screening for women aged 50 to 69, ranged from 58% uptake in the Western region; 60% in the Eastern region; 76% in the Central region and 61% provincially. On a regional scale, there was a 1% increase from 2008-2009 in the Eastern region; a 5% decrease in the Central region; and a 4% increase in the Western region. On a provincial scale, there was a 1% increase in the percentage of eligible women who were screened since 2008-2009. Additionally, there are a significant number of opportunistic screening mammograms performed in the diagnostic imaging departments of acute care facilities each year.
Cervical Screening
Annual cervical screening participation rates (2010) increased by 2% in the Eastern, Central and Western regions, compared to the previous (2009) year. In the Labrador-Grenfell region the rate remained unchanged. Provincially there was also a 2% increase in the participation rate, with 2,910 additional Pap test being performed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2010-11 Quarter 4: January 1 to March 31, 2011
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Fourth Quarter (January-March 31, 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) |
|
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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. |
|
| 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 | Biennial participation rates (percentages) for the 2009-2010 calendar years for each of the province’s 3 breast screening centres.
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| Cervical Screening | Women, starting at age 18, every three years to age 69 after two normal pap tests. | Across the country, administrative data are not available to report participation rates according to the national benchmark. |
| Provincial Benchmark (NL) Sexually active women aged 20-69 who had one Pap test during the period January 1, 2010 to December 31,2010 | Annual Participation Rates-2010
|
Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: 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: July 19, 2011