Provincial Wait Times Data
2014-15 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30
During the second quarter of 2014-2015 (July 1 to September 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 98 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 94 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 82 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, 98 per cent of 155 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 24 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, 78 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed. Wait time data demonstrated: 100 per cent of 14 Level 1 cases were completed within 5 days; 85 per cent of 20 Level 2 cases were completed in 42 days; and 93 per cent of 45 Level 3 cases were completed within 182 days. Median wait times were 1 day for Level 1, 8 days for Level 2 and 14 days for Level 3; the 90th percentile was 4, 55, and 163 days respectively. At the end of September 2014, 56 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 783 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 94 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 59 days; and the 90th percentile was 103 days. In the Central region, 93 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 76 days; and the 90th percentile was 96 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 14 days; and the 90th percentile was 66 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed by an iterant specialist sessional visit much 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 125 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 95 per cent of 68 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 99 days; and the 90th percentile was 176 days. In the Central region, 95 per cent of 30 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 68 days; and the 90th percentile was 149 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 20 hip replacements were completed in less than 182 days; the median was 50 days; the 90th percentile was 153 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 close to 160 knee joint replacement cases completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 91 per cent of 90 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 112 days; and the 90th percentile was 167 days. In the Central region, 95 per cent of 43 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 134 days; and the 90th percentile was 178 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 20 cases were completed in less than 182 days; the median was 47 days; and the 90th percentile was 108 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. There were just over 120 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 72 per cent of 70 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 40 hours and 46 minutes and the 90th percentile was 61 hours and 54 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 19 cases were completed in 25 hours and 11 minutes; which is sooner than the benchmark of 48 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 32 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 45 hours and 57 minutes; the median wait was 16 hours and 9 minutes and the 90th percentile was 39 hours and 48 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
2014-15 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Third Quarter (October 1 – December 31, 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 (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: January 28, 2015