NLIS 3 Province Continues Strong Performance with Wait Time Benchmarks The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to perform well in meeting national wait time benchmarks, which include curative radiotherapy, coronary bypass surgery, cataract surgery, hip and knee replacement, hip fracture repair and diagnostics. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, today released statistics for the first two quarters of 2009-10: April 1 to June 30, and July 1 to September 30. "Our latest wait times update clearly demonstrates that Newfoundland and Labrador is continuing its commitment to reduce wait times within our health care system," said Minister Kennedy. "Although we see slight variations from one quarter to the next, overall our province is performing well, which is resulting in Newfoundlanders and Labradorians receiving care in these areas in a timely manner." Curative RadiotherapyRadiation treatment wait time information has been expanded this year to report across all disease sites, including breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers. During the first two quarters of 2009-10, between 85.8 to 87.7 per cent of 407 new patients began radiation treatment within the benchmark target timeframe of 30 days. Cardiac Bypass SurgeryWait time reporting for cardiac bypass surgery has also been expanded to report the province's performance according to the three urgency levels included in the national benchmark for cardiac bypass surgery. These levels are classified as follows: Level 1 is urgent, Level 2 is semi-urgent and Level 3 is elective. The access target is 14 days for Level 1, 42 days for Level 2 and 182 days for Level 3. During both quarters combined, 185 bypass surgeries were performed. Approximately 91 to 100 per cent of Level 1, 86.7 to 88.9 per cent of Level 2, and 94.1 to 100 per cent of Level 3 patients underwent surgery within the corresponding target timeframes. In some cases, procedures were periodically postponed and rescheduled when there was a high demand for critical care beds. Cataracts In keeping with the national definition recommended by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the wait time measurement for cataract surgery is now refined, with regions reporting a more precise wait time for surgery on the first eye as opposed to the combined wait time for both eyes. This change will help improve comparability of cataract surgical wait times among provinces. The national benchmark target for cataract procedures is 112 days. More than 2,000 cataract cases were carried out during both quarters combined. The Eastern region carried out 75.9 to 76.5 per cent of cataract procedures on the first eye within 112 days. In the Central region, 82.2 to 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed within the benchmark timeframe. In the Western region, 90.9 to 100 per cent of first eye procedures were carried out within 112 days. In Labrador-Grenfell region 92.9 per cent of first eye cases were completed within the benchmark timeframe in the first quarter and zero cases were completed in the summer period. Hip Replacement Knee Replacement The national benchmark for knee replacement is 182 days. Just over 300 knee operations were carried out during both quarters combined. One hundred and sixty-two of these cases were completed in the Eastern region with 39.7 to 42.7 per cent done within 182 days. In the Central region, 97.4 to 100 per cent of 83 cases were completed in the same timeframe. Western Health performed 100 per cent of around 50 cases within the benchmark target, and in the Labrador-Grenfell region, 71.4 per cent of cases were completed in the same timeframe during the first quarter. Hip Fracture Repair Wait time benchmarks are evidence-based goals that each province and territory will strive to meet. Benchmarks express the amount of time that clinical evidence shows is appropriate to wait for a particular procedure. A wait time begins with the decision to treat, when the patient and the appropriate physician agree to a service and the patient is ready to receive it. The ultimate objective is timely and appropriate care for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future provides total funding for health care in the amount of $2.7 billion, a record investment. Investments to improve access to services and reduce wait times include $52.2 million for new medical equipment, such as a new MRI machine at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital and the purchase of new ultrasound machines throughout the province. Budget 2010 also includes approximately $1.4 million to enhance surgical and cardiology services at Western Memorial Hospital and $1.1 million to decrease wait times for surgery by increasing the number of positions in operating rooms in the Eastern Health region. - 30 - Media contact:
BACKGROUNDER 2009-10 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30, 2009
2009-10 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30, 2009
Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador. 2010 04 08 10:00 a.m. |
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