THUNDER BAY – Residents of Thunder Bay can now find out more about wait times in their local hospitals because Ontario has expanded its wait time reporting to include all adult and paediatric surgical areas. Ontario now has the most comprehensive wait time information in the country.
Over the last six years, Ontario has developed complete disclosure of all surgical and diagnostic imaging wait times in the province. The latest data shows that provincial wait times for all surgical areas are within the identified target.
By tracking and reporting the data and making strategic investments Ontario is giving hospitals the tools they need to improve wait times while providing patients the most transparent and up-to-date information available. Since Ontario started measuring, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has made significant wait times improvements:
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- reduced cancer surgery wait times by 22 days or 38.6 per cent
- reduced cataract surgery wait times by 252 days or 67.6 per cent
- reduced hip replacement surgery wait times by 52 days or 28.3 per cent
- reduced knee surgery wait times by 269 days or 48.8 per cent
- reduced CT scan wait times by 32 days or 58.2 per cent
- reduced MRI wait times by 187 days or 87 per cent
“Our government has increased transparency and provided greater access to wait times information. Anyone can now use the information on the Wait Time website to talk to your doctor about wait times for any surgery or diagnostic exam you need,” states Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan
“I’m extremely pleased to see such a marked improvement in shortened wait times for some surgeries and diagnostic tests here in Northwestern Ontario. Our government continues to deliver on its promise to improve health care for all Ontarians, and while there is still more to do, it’s very encouraging to see such great strides,” adds Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North
“The healthcare teams at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are leaders in Patient and Family Centred Care and providing surgery with a minimum wait time is always a standard that we pursue. Timely acute care, especially surgical care is inherently complex, so enabling patients and families with access to information regarding their care journey is important to us,” concluded Ron Saddington, President/CEO, TBRHSC.
“The North West LHIN continues to work with the hospitals and other health care providers to ensure residents have improved access to surgical and diagnostic imaging services. Our wait times for cancer surgery as well as MRI and CT diagnostic scans are among the lowest in the province. We welcome the expansion of the wait times reporting which will provide us with the information we need to ensure residents in the northwest continue to have timely access to important services,” comments Laura Kokocinski, Interim CEO, NW LHIN
QUICK FACTS
- New surgeries now being reported include: gynecologic surgery; neurosurgery; oral and maxillofacial surgery and dentistry; otolaryngic surgery; plastic and reconstructive surgery, thoracic surgery, urologic surgery and vascular surgery
- Ontario is now the first province in the country to report on paediatric surgery wait times by hospital.
- Ontario currently reports on wait times for over 190 different procedures and diagnostic exams.