Joint Replacement Wait Times
Arthritis is the leading cause of joint replacement surgeries, including 99 per cent of knee replacements and more than 70 per cent of hip replacements. These surgeries drastically change the quality of life for people living with arthritis, giving them back their mobility and allowing them to return to work and normal activities without constant and devastating pain. Delays in these surgeries lead to more pain, further deterioration of joints, additional surgeries, and increased costs to the health system and economy.
With input from a pan-Canadian group of leading clinicians, advocates and health system leaders, Arthritis Society Canada released a report in 2021, The Wait: Addressing Canada’s Critical Backlog of Hip and Knee Replacement Surgeries. The report provides concrete, innovative solutions to deliver more efficient and person-centred care for joint replacement surgeries and improve the health care system.
While governments have taken some action to address surgical wait times through dedicated funding, task forces, and adoption of some of our solutions, too many people are still waiting too long in pain. According to the most recent data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) wait times for hip and knee replacements are longer than before the pandemic.
A robust pan-Canadian wait times strategy is urgently needed. This strategy must include setting and tracking targets, optimizing resources, implementing innovative models of care, preventing the progression of arthritis through early intervention and improving access to care. Government collaboration with healthcare providers, patient groups and other health system stakeholders is also essential to identify obstacles and the most effective measures to address them.
Through meetings with government officials and health system leaders and our ongoing advocacy campaign, Arthritis Society Canada continues to call on governments to take bold and immediate action to solve this crisis and improve the lives of those living with arthritis.
For further information, please see our position statement [PDF 1.2MB] on wait times.
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