During the first quarter of 2016-2017 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 86 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, which represents a decrease from the previous quarter’s results. All or 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 100 per cent of all cardiac bypass patients had surgery within 149 days, which is 33 days sooner than the benchmark of 182 days; 90 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 72 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 70 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 95 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, 100 per cent of 192 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 11 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 19 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. Nationally, cardiac bypass surgery benchmark data according to the three urgency levels is not comparable, therefore NL will report summary level data for all three levels combined. During this quarter, 100 per cent of 84 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within 149 days, which is much sooner than the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 6 days; and the 90th percentile was 72 days. At the end of June 2016, 31 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 2,000 cataract cases were completed in the province this quarter, including more than 1,000 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 89 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 64 days; and the 90th percentile was 113 days. In the Central region, 100 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 69 days; and the 90th percentile was 83 days. In the Western region, 89 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 48 days; and the 90th percentile was 113 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 86 per cent of 14 cases were completed by the visiting specialist within 112 days; the median was 1 day; and the 90th percentile was 176 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, 63 per cent of 76 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 150 days; and the 90th percentile was 269 days. In the Central region, 86 per cent of 29 cases were completed in 182 days; the median was 44 days; and the 90th percentile was 241 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 21 hip replacements were completed within 128 days; the median was 27 days; and the 90th percentile was 122 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. During this quarter, there were 279 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 61 per cent of 160 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 155 days; and the 90th percentile was 305 days. In the Central region, 78 per cent of 44 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 111 days; and the 90th percentile was 239 days. In the Western region, 87 per cent of 61 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 68 days; and the 90th percentile was 218 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 91 per cent of 15 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 78 days; and the 90th percentile was 145 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. There were 116 hip fracture surgeries completed in the province this quarter. In the Eastern region, 95 per cent of 85 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and 17 minutes and the 90th percentile was 44 hours and 59 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 20 cases were completed in 22 hours and 48 minutes, which is much sooner than the 48 hour benchmark; the median was 5 hours and 44 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 17 hours and 30 minutes. In the Western region, 90 per cent of 10 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 20 hours and 7 minutes and the 90th percentile was 36 hours and 2 minutes. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2016-17 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2016) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (RHAs), 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 Regional Health Authorities 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: December 15 2016