DRIVING DOWN WAIT TIMES FOR SASKATCHEWAN PATIENTS

Surgical Initiative Continues To Build Momentum

More patients are receiving surgeries sooner in Saskatchewan, as health regions advance Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative projects that promote sooner, safer, smarter care.

"Patients are increasingly seeing the benefits of the many Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative projects that are underway," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "We're supporting system changes in all aspects of surgical care - from diagnosis and specialist referral through surgery and recovery. That big picture approach is starting to pay off."

Saskatchewan hospitals have provided more than 41,100 surgeries in the first six months of 2011-12, eight per cent more than during the same period last year.

Wait Time Goals:                           Surgeries completed (at Sept 30, 2011):
Surgery within 18 months                99 per cent
Surgery within 12 months                96 per cent
Surgery within 6 months                  87 per cent
Surgery within 3 months                  76 per cent

Five mid-sized health regions are currently completing 100 per cent of surgeries within 12 months.

Since November 2007, the number of patients waiting longer than 18 months for surgery has dropped 80 per cent, the number waiting over 12 months has dropped 65 per cent and the number waiting more than six months has declined 43 per cent.

The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative is working toward improving the surgical patient experience from referral through recovery and providing all patients with an opportunity to have surgery within three months by 2014. It supports numerous projects including:

• a newly-improved online Specialist Directory that helps physicians and patients choose the most appropriate surgeon;
• expansion of an electronic surgical information system that automates and streamlines many aspects of surgical care;
• patient "pathways" that guide care for patients with hip, knee, spine or gynaecological problems, and those with prostate cancer; and
• implementation of surgical safety checklists in all hospital operating rooms.
  McMorris said the Surgical Initiative is making excellent progress toward its goal for year two (2011-12) - that all patients have an opportunity to have their surgery within 12 months. The province provided funding to enable health regions to provide about 5,700 additional surgeries this fiscal year.

The number of people waiting for surgery in a Saskatchewan hospital is at its lowest level - about 22,800 cases - since the current data measurement system was put in place in 2004.

More information is available at www.health.gov.sk.ca/saskatchewan-surgical-initiative. Wait time data is posted at www.sasksurgery.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tyler.mcmurchy@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-3594