TARGET TIME FRAMES FOR SURGERY UNVEILED

Saskatchewan has unveiled a key initiative in its strategy to better manage surgical access.

Health Minister John Nilson today announced "Target Time Frames for Surgery" - a system that will help patients receive surgical care according to their level of need. It is another significant action for improving timely access to surgical care, identified as a priority in The Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care.

Target Time Frames are performance goals set for all surgical specialties and procedures. These targets will allow the surgical care system to better monitor and track patients and help to ensure they receive care according to their level of need.

Saskatchewan Health will work with health regions to concentrate on two key areas. The first key area will be cancer surgeries. Reflecting their urgency, the goal will be to complete 95 per cent of cancer surgeries within three weeks. The other key focus will be on patients who have been waiting longest for surgery. The target is to have all surgeries completed within 18 months.

"Together with key health partners, the SSCN is working to improve the system's effectiveness and organization so that those who require surgery receive it within appropriate time frames," Health Minister John Nilson said. "Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada to commit to these types of targets for all surgical specialties and procedures."

The Target Time Frames were developed by the Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network (SSCN) and its Surgical Services Subcommittee, in consultation with doctors and specialists.

Patients are placed within one of six priority levels through the new Patient Assessment Process. Physicians assess patients using a common set of questions, and patients are assigned a score based on their condition and the type of surgery they require. For example, 95 per cent of patients scoring priority one should have their surgery within 24 hours.

"Surgeons and regions can begin to use information from the patient assessment tools to meet priority level targets, as the Patient Assessment Process is confirmed," SSCN's Surgical Services Subcommittee Chair Dr. Rob Weiler said. "The province has made significant progress on the Patient Assessment Process and the Surgical Patient Registry. Together with Target Time Frames, these initiatives will help us to better determine where we are meeting patient needs, and where we need to improve."

"Saskatchewan continues to lead the nation with our vision for managing surgical care," SSCN Chair Dr. Peter Glynn said. "As the targets are met, consideration will be given to setting even more optimistic goals to further reduce wait times for Saskatchewan patients."

In addition to ongoing investments in surgical and diagnostic care, Saskatchewan Health invested an additional $13.2 million through a wait list fund to support the work of the SSCN. The Government has again committed to focus on this priority area this year.

For information on SSCN initiatives, visit www.sasksurgery.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083