Ep. 140: Reducing Canadian Surgical Wait Times
Guest: Dr. Kevin Wing
Are you or someone you know living with chronic pain?
Have you ever wondered why it takes so long to see an orthopaedic surgeon? Then, why it takes longer still to get a date for surgery? How come someone in a car accident, or an on the job injury, gets into surgery within hours, but you wait, and wait, and wait?
Orthopaedic surgeons have been asking the same questions.
Dr. Kevin Wing, the Past President of the BC Orthopaedic Association, wants to fix that. He and his colleagues are looking for ways to reduce the wait and relieve pain.
Surgeons have broken down the wait time into what they call "Wait 1" and "Wait 2." Wait 1 time is the period between when your physician refers you to an orthopaedic surgeon and when you get to see that surgeon. Wait 2 time is the space between your consultation for surgery, and the actual surgery.
As it stands, in combination these wait times can take up to 2 years. This has become unacceptable in the eyes of patients and Doctors alike. Dr. Wing says, "We're doing everything we can to reduce Wait 1 time, but Wait 2 times are out of our hands. It's really up to the government to decide if they want to fund more surgery time."
