I have another return to oral question asked by Ms. Wendy Bisaro on March 24, 2010, regarding wait times to see medical specialists in the Northwest Territories.
As I stated in the House, the topic of wait times is a national issue. The international physician shortage and changing population demographics impact wait times around the world. Our medical director is working with health care providers and the chief executive officers of the health and social services authorities, constantly monitor wait time lists both here and in the South. Wait times are generally the same length down south as they are in the North.
While we do not have wait time standards per se, I can provide the following information:
People who need emergency surgery or treatment receive it without delay.
Specialists are a territorial resource and serve the entire NWT.
As part of the Territorial Service Plan, the feasibility of expanding specialist services by using a mobile team to the Inuvik Regional Hospital is being considered.
Over the past few years, the Stanton Territorial Health Authority has taken steps to increase the volume of surgical procedures through the better management of patient and existing resources.
The adoption of innovative technologists will allow local and distant professionals to assess patient needs and better provide specialist services. This will enhance the efficiencies, lower costs related to travel and fees for specialists, and potentially reduce wait times. Most importantly, this will provide a tool for seamless case management for patients using specialist services at Stanton and for southern referrals.
By effectively managing this costly service at a territorial level, we can maximize efficiencies to ensure we are getting the best value for our resources.
Wait times as of March 2010 are:
elective consult for general surgery: one year;
elective consult for internal medicine: nine months to one year;
urgent consult in a permanent specialty area: one week to one month;
urgent consult with a visiting specialist: depends on the next visit, ranging from monthly to quarterly depending on the sub-specialty;
the two visiting specialists with the longest wait times are neurology and urology;
non-urgent consult: one to two years;
non-urgent endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and cystoscopy: two years;
non-urgent endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopy: two years;
knee or hip replacements: approximately one year.
As a way of historical background I’d like to provide you with the following:
The number of patients seen by the internal medicine specialist at Stanton Territorial Health Authority’s medical clinic more than doubled in three years. Patients seen increased from 1,682 to 3,612.
The number of patients seen by the general surgery speciality at Stanton Territorial Health Authority’s Medical Centre increased by 46 percent over the past three years. Patients seen increased from 2,625 to 3,834.
The year-over-year growth for colonoscopy performed between 2007-08 and 2008-09 increased by 21 percent. Stanton Territorial Health Authority’s internal medical specialists and general surgeons performed 2,189 colonoscopies in 2008-09.
Thank you.
