Released on December 2, 1998
Health Minister Pat Atkinson and Associate Health Minister Judy Junor
today announced the appointment of a task team to recommend
improvements to the system for elective surgery waiting lists in the
province. Dr. Stewart McMillan will head the three-person team that
is asked to report its recommendations by February, 1999.
"Some citizens are simply waiting too long for elective surgery,"
Atkinson said. "Citizens have a right to know how the booking system
works. They have a right to definitions they can understand. And
they have a right to get their surgery in a reasonable time."
In addition to Dr. McMillan, the task team will include Dr. Barry
Maber, Vice-President of Physicians for Saskatoon Health District and
Dr. Mark Ogrady, Head of Surgery for Regina Health District.
"This team has first-hand knowledge of the way surgery is managed now,
and they can lead us toward practical solutions," said Atkinson.
Atkinson said that the task team is part of a larger strategy to
address waiting times. Other initiatives include Saskatchewan's
participation in the Western Canadian Waiting List Project, which is
focused on identifying reasonable waiting times and ongoing planning
with districts, physicians and department officials.
"To ensure all citizens receive services in a timely way requires
a joint effort among districts, physicians and government,"
Atkinson said.
The overall number of surgeries is growing, Atkinson said, and
some types of procedures have seen dramatic increases.
"In 1997-98 there were 91,773 surgeries performed in
Saskatchewan, up from 77,235 ten years before. Cataract
surgeries have increased by 306 per cent since 1987-88, from
2,771 to 11,237. Hip and knee replacements have increased by 87
per cent from 968 to 1,810. These procedures remain among those
with longer waiting times."
Junor said the task team will focus on surgeries that are
classified by physicians as elective.
"We are doing a good job in responding to emergencies and urgent
situations," Junor said. "We need to define those areas where
the problems are and see how we can do better."
Junor said emergency surgeries are provided immediately. Those
classified as urgent are booked within a few days or weeks and
may take precedence over elective procedures.
"Procedures are called elective' when physicians determine the
patient's condition allows them to be scheduled in sequence with
other patients."
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Saskatchewan Health
Communications Branch
Regina, Phone: (306) 787-4088
TASK TEAM ON SCHEDULING SURGERY
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Mandate
The principle objectives for the Team is to:
(i) describe a fair and transparent system for scheduling elective surgical procedures (i.e., a waiting list system); and
(ii) recommend the steps necessary to implement the waiting list system across the province
The Task Team is expected to examine all pertinent issues, including but not limited to the following:
How long are people waiting and what kinds of surgery are they waiting for?
In what circumstances are people waiting too long and what are the contributing factors in these situations?
How does access to surgery compare between health districts?
How are surgical resources allocated among specialty services (i.e. orthopedics, ophthalmology, gynecology, etc.)?
What changes to service delivery and coordination are needed to ensure acceptable and timely access to surgery (i.e. common terms, assessment criteria, clinical reviews, etc.)?
What resources are required to implement these changes?
Membership
Dr. Stewart McMillan, Regina Physician and Medical Advisor to Saskatchewan Health (Chair) Dr. Barry Maber, Vice-President of Physicians, Saskatoon District Health Board Dr. Mark Ogrady, Head of Surgery, Regina District Health Board
The Task Team will work with district health board administrations, physicians and government officials and draw upon other expertise as required to assist with the development of recommendations.
Reporting and Timelines
The Task Team will report to the Minister of Health and the Associate Minister of Health by February 28, 1999.
TASK TEAM ON SURGERY WAITING LISTS
MEMBERSHIP
Dr. J. Stewart McMillan
Dr. Stewart McMillan is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and has practised family medicine in Regina since 1973.
Dr. McMillan has long been interested in Quality Management and Utilization Management and has spoken widely on the topic. Chairman of the Saskatchewan's Health Services Utilization and Research Commission since its inception in 1992, he also chaired the 1989 Hospital Utilization Management Study Task Force, Saskatchewan Commission on Future Directions in Health Care and Task Force on High Cost Drugs.
Dr. McMillan served as President of the Saskatchewan Medical Association in 1982. He also served on the Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan from 1986 to 1991 and in 1988 was President of the Council of the College of Physicians and surgeons.
Dr. Barry Maber
Dr. Barry Maber received his BA and MD from the University of Saskatchewan and completed specialty training in Otolaryngology at the University of Toronto. He holds a teaching appointment at the College of Medicine as a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery. In April of this year he left his practice of Otolaryngology to take up the full time position of Physician Vice-President at Saskatoon District Health.
Dr. Maber is a past president of both the Saskatchewan Medical Association and the College of Physician and Surgeons. He is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Quality and a member of the American College of Physician Executives. From 1994 to 1998 he served as Medical Consultant for Saskatchewan. He is Vice-Chair of HSURC and continues to serve as a member of the Council of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Mark John Ogrady
Dr. Mark Ogrady completed his medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1980 and his residency in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, at the University of British Columbia in 1985.
Dr. Ogrady has a private practice in Regina, where he holds a number of positions with the Health district, including Chief of Surgery and Chairperson of the District's Operating Room Management Committee.
Dr. Ogrady is also an Associate Clinical Professor with the College of Medicine's Department of Surgery, has represented Saskatchewan at the Executive Council of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology, Head
and Neck Surgery, and is a past president of the Saskatchewan Section of Otolaryngology.
