Provincial Wait Times Data
2014-15 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
During the first quarter of 2014-2015 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 95 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, which is consistent with the previous quarter’s strong results. Nearly all or 99 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 96 per cent of all cardiac bypass patients had surgery within 182 days; 96 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 96 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 91 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 87 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, 99 per cent of 163 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 12 days, 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. During this quarter, 77 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed. Wait time data demonstrated: 100 per cent of 14 Level 1 cases were completed within 12 days; 88 per cent of 25 Level 2 cases were completed in 42 days; and 92 per cent of 38 Level 3 cases were completed within 182 days. Median wait times were 1 day for Level 1, 7 days for Level 2 and 17 days for Level 3; the 90th percentile was 12, 43, and 148 days respectively. At the end of June 2014, 47 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 747 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 93 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 47 days; and the 90th percentile was 106 days. In the Central region, 100 per cent of first eye included cases were completed sooner than the benchmark; the median was 55 days; and the 90th percentile was 81 days. In the Western region, 99 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 20 days; and the 90th percentile was 85 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed by an iterant specialist sessional visit sooner than the benchmark of 112 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were close to 130 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 96 per cent of 80 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 94 days; and the 90th percentile was 158 days. In the Central region, 94 per cent of 20 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 109 days; and the 90th percentile was 169 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 22 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 45 days; the 90th percentile was 139 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 245 knee joint replacement cases completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 92 per cent of 142 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 105 days; and the 90th percentile was 176 days. In the Central region, 80 per cent of 40 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 138 days; and the 90th percentile was 288 days. In the Western region, 97 per cent of 56 cases were completed in less than 182 days; the median was 50 days; and the 90th percentile was 115 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 80 per cent of 7 cases were completed within 182 days, and all cases were completed within 201 days; the median was 69 days; and the 90th percentile was 174 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 71 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 32 hours and 30 minutes and the 90th percentile was 57 hours and 24 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 10 cases were completed in 48 hours and 27 minutes; the median was 10 hours and 54 minutes and the 90th percentile was 36 hours and 6 minutes. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 22 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 42 hours and 17 minutes; which is sooner than the benchmark of 48 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2014-15 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2014) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
Data Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: In keeping with data standards, outliers or cases that do not comply with the standard wait time definitions are excluded from cataract wait time calculations and Eastern and Central Health are working to address this. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, a low number (DS) of hip replacements and hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: January 28, 2015
Wait Time Benchmark Update Q1, 2014-15 (233 KB)
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