It’s much faster to get hip or knee replacements if there’s a central waitlist: study

Canadians in need of hip or knee replacements could potentially receive their surgeries faster and more efficiently without increasing healthcare budgets by implementing centralized waitlists, according to a recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The study suggests that creating central waitlists where patients can see any surgeon in their area is significantly more effective in reducing wait times compared to the current system where each surgeon maintains their own waitlist.

Currently, in Ontario, patients are referred by their primary care provider to a specific surgeon or physiotherapist for assessment. If surgery is deemed necessary, the patient is placed on that particular surgeon’s waitlist, which can vary in length. Unfortunately, this often results in long wait times, with only two-thirds of hip replacement patients and 59% of knee replacement patients receiving surgery within the recommended 26-week timeframe.

Dr. David Urbach, head of the surgery department at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, and his team conducted a study comparing three different models of assigning surgery patients to waitlists. The study included data from over 17,000 patients referred for hip or knee replacements in Ontario in 2017. The three models examined were centralized intake for assessment and surgery, referral to a specific surgeon for assessment, and a combination of the two.

The study found that the centralized waitlist model significantly reduced wait times for the majority of patients in all regions. Patients on the central waitlist saw their wait times decreased by up to 281 days in some regions. This model streamlined the process, allowing patients to be matched with the next available surgeon based on priority criteria such as pain level and disability.

While some surgeons may be hesitant to move away from maintaining their own waitlists, Dr. Olufemi Ayeni, president of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, believes there is a growing acceptance of team-based surgical care within the profession. By adopting centralized waitlists, surgeons can ensure that patients receive timely care without unnecessary delays.

Healthcare systems in provinces like Quebec and Alberta have already successfully implemented centralized waitlist management systems for surgical care, including hip and knee replacements. By adopting similar models across the country, wait times for joint replacement surgeries could be significantly reduced, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.

In conclusion, centralizing waitlists for hip and knee replacement surgeries presents a viable solution to reduce wait times and improve access to care for Canadians in need. By embracing team-based models of care and prioritizing patient needs, the healthcare system can effectively address the growing demand for joint replacement surgeries.