Surgical rates in the Canadian provinces, 1968 to 1972

Canadian and provincial rates for eight elective and seven nonelective operations were determined from 1968 through 1972. Of the elective procedures considered, the Canadian tonsillectomy rate decreased substantially and rates for hysterectomy and cholecystectomy showed large increases. The provinces reflected national trends for these three operations. Except for coletomy, which increased 36%, rates for the nonelective procedures showed little change. Correlations between the numbers of surgical personnel and the elective surgery rates in the provinces were demonstrated in 3 of the 5 years; these are best shown at the extremes. Newfoundland had the fewest surgeons, a bed: population ratio below the national average and the lowest combined elective surgical rate; Alberta ranked high in all three categories. In the seven other provinces, there was less variation in the number of surgeons, hospital beds and elective surgical rates. Provinces with extensive insurance coverage prior to universal medical insurance reduced their combined elective surgery rate, while provinces where fewer people were insured showed increases. In the absence of different methods of payment for surgical services and marginal changes in the number of hospital beds and the number of surgeons, more insured persons produced more elective surgery.