A recent study, led by Dr. David Urbach from Women's College Hospital in Toronto, analyzed data from over 17,000 patients referred for non-urgent hip or knee replacements in 2017.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, suggests that coordinated referral and team-based care models can effectively reduce wait times for hip and knee replacement surgeries.

Among the models evaluated, the centralized intake approach nearly halved wait times, reducing them from 536 to 255 days in Ontario West and from 257 to 146 days in Toronto.

The study found that while single-entry referral models reduced high-outlier wait times for consultations, team-based and fully integrated models were more effective in lowering surgery wait times.

In regions where integrated care models were implemented, wait times for surgeries were reduced by as much as 281 days, demonstrating the efficacy of coordinated care.

Health PEI is already implementing a centralized waitlist management system for surgical care, reflecting a growing recognition of the benefits of this approach across Canada.

Currently, only two-thirds of patients receive hip replacements within the recommended 26 weeks, and only 59% of knee replacement patients meet this standard, highlighting the urgency for reform.

Despite some skepticism from surgeons regarding centralized models due to fears of losing referrals and autonomy, there is a cultural shift towards embracing team-based care in orthopedics.

Successful implementation of these models requires strong leadership, collaboration among health-system stakeholders, and investment in infrastructure rather than temporary solutions.

The ultimate goal for Ontario patients is to ensure they wait no longer than six months for both consultation and surgery, with a target of 90 days for top priority cases.

Canada is grappling with long wait times for scheduled surgeries, which significantly affect patients' health and mobility, and the country ranks poorly in international health system comparisons.

These coordinated models not only improve wait times but also enhance equity in access to joint replacement surgeries, addressing geographic and socioeconomic disparities.