The Provincial Government is providing updates on innovative solutions that are increasing access to health care in Newfoundland and Labrador and resulting in patients receiving health care sooner than anticipated.
To date:
- 104 patients have been transported on 14 chartered flights from Labrador and Western Newfoundland for cardiac catheterization procedures in St. John’s;
- 163 surgeries have been completed by the orthopedic team travelling from St John’s to St. Anthony to Carbonear; and
- 216 same-day/outpatient hip and knee replacement surgeries have been completed at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital.
As a result of the success of the same-day fly-in/fly-out cardiac catheterization flights, known as Heart Force One, over the past year, NL Health Services has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for regular flights. The RFP is scheduled to close on January 11, 2024.
The orthopedic surgery program has recently expanded to Western Newfoundland, which will also increase the number of same-day/outpatient joint replacement surgeries as well as additional inpatient surgeries.
In addition, a pilot project has been established in Gander in which patients are admitted overnight following knee replacement surgery, and then transition to an outpatient ambulatory rehabilitation clinic for ongoing care and recovery. It has completed 32 knee replacement series to date, and Central Zone estimates this will lead to over 200 additional surgeries each year when fully implemented.
With these four initiatives, the health authority anticipates performing over 700 additional surgeries each year.
These innovative approaches to managing waitlists for orthopedic surgeries and cardiac catheterization procedures help to reduce the backlog and make wait times shorter and result in more available beds in hospitals, which provide quicker admissions for patients in need of further care and treatment.
Quotes
“These initiatives have proven that they improve access to quality care for patients across the province. Their expansion to regular flights for Heart Force One and expansion of the travelling orthopedic program to Western Zone will continue to increase capacity in our acute care settings as we continue to transform our health care system.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
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Creative Solutions Continue to Promote Access to Health Care in Newfoundland and Labrador
Initiatives Aim to Increase Capacity for Orthopedic Surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador
First Surgeries Performed in St. Anthony Under Travelling Orthopedic Program
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