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The Road to Improving Access to Surgical Specialist Consultations: Ontario's Experience with Wait 1 Wait Time Data
Claudia Zanchetta1, Jonathan C Irish2, James P Waddell3
1Has been with ATC on the forefront of healthcare IM/IT transformation for ten years. She is the clinical group manager for the Surgery Information Program at Access to Care, Cancer Care Ontario. Her unique combination of clinical experience and expertise in stakeholder engagement has enabled her to lead successful, complex provincial system projects. Claudia brings over 20 years of clinical and leadership experience as a staff nurse and nurse practitioner in a range of settings, including critical care, mental health, neurosurgery and trauma.
Abstract:
In 2009, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care engaged Cancer Care Ontario to expand the Wait Time Information System to capture surgical consultation data (Wait 1). Over the years, an increasing number of patient and provider reports have shown that Wait 1 wait times account for a significant portion of the total wait time for surgery. With data published online by the ministry in late summer 2017, patients were given access to consultation wait time information for over 200 types of procedures at 92 surgical facilities in Ontario. This article explains how a highly focused data strategy, strong stakeholder and clinical expert support and a comprehensive communications strategy were critical to driving change for a large-scale provincial initiative, which is helping to drive better access for patients and improve transparency and accountability.