During the second quarter of 2017-2018 (July 1 to September 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 88 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, which is on par with the previous quarter’s results. All or 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 99 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 85 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 89 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 71 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 92 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 180 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 13 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, 99 per cent of 85 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 9 days; and the 90th percentile was 58 days. At the end of September 2017, 52 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, with nearly 700 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 83 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 91 days; and the 90th percentile was 124 days. In the Central region, 88 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 78 days; and the 90th percentile was 113 days. In the Western region, 94 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 22 days; and the 90th percentile was 108 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 142 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 87 per cent of 97 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 68 days; and the 90th percentile was 223 days. In the Central region, 90 per cent of 23 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 46 days; and the 90th percentile was 90 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 16 hip replacements were completed within 154 days; the median was 92 days; and the 90th percentile was 135 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 6 hip replacements were completed within 130 days; and the median was 31 days; the 90th percentile was 45 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 227 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 65 per cent of 133 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 137 days; and the 90th percentile was 313 days. In the Central region, 72 per cent of 56 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 156 days; and the 90th percentile was 370 days. In the Western region, 89 per cent of 37 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 119 days; and the 90th percentile was 185 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of the 7 cases were completed within 148 days; the median was 54 days; and the 90th percentile was 137 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 120 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 92 per cent of 75 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 23 hours and 34 minutes and the 90th percentile was 47 hours and 29 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 20 cases were completed in 24 hours and 57 minutes, which is much sooner than the 48 hour benchmark; the median was 7 hours and 1 minute; and the 90th percentile was 24 hours and 51 minutes. In the Western region, 83 per cent of 18 hip fracture surgeries were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 26 hours and 41 minutes and the 90th percentile was 48 hours and 28 minutes. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no hip fracture surgeries were performed in this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2017-18 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 30, 2017) |
|---|---|---|
| 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, no (NV) hip fracture or cataract surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: January 25, 2018