During the second quarter of 2015-2016 (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 remains consistent with the previous quarter’s results. Nearly all or 99 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; 94 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 94 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 89 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 94 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 171 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 20 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 78 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within 149 days, which is 33 days sooner than the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 10 days; and the 90th percentile was 97 days. At the end of September 30, 2015, 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 757 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 114 days. In the Central region, 90 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 83 days; and the 90th percentile was 106 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 70 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, the itinerant specialists did not visit to perform cataract cases this quarter.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were close to 120 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 91 per cent of 64 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 78 days; and the 90th percentile was 171 days. In the Central region, 92 per cent of 19 cases were completed in 182 days; the median was 50 days; and the 90th percentile was 96 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 22 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 80 days; the 90th percentile was 134 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 7 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 48 days; and the 90th percentile was 62 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. There were close to 180 knee joint replacement cases completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 92 per cent of 107 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 85 days; and the 90th percentile was 162 days. In the Central region, 71 per cent of 46 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 115 days; and the 90th percentile was 254 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 27 cases were completed within 155 days, which is sooner than the 182 day benchmark; the median was 119 days; and the 90th percentile was 152 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 123 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 92 per cent of 78 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and 55 minutes and the 90th percentile was 47 hours and 28 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 19 cases were completed in 24 hours and 10 minutes, which is much sooner than the 48 hour benchmark; the median was 14 hours and 29 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 23 hours and 19 minutes. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 25 hip fracture surgeries were completed in less than 48 hours; the median wait was 22 hours and 49 minutes and the 90th percentile was 46 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
2015-16 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 30, 2015) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 knee replacement and hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter. The iterant specialists did not visit (NV) to perform cataract procedures this quarter.
Date: January 12, 2016