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Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Meribeth Burton

Island Health
Meribeth.burton@viha.ca
250 519-1815

Backgrounders

Joint replacement surgeries on the South Island

In 2016-17, 1,442 scheduled hip and knee surgeries were performed at Victoria General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital.

South Island hip replacements:

  • As of Feb. 28, 2018, during the 2017-18 fiscal year, there were 683 hip replacements on the South Island.
  • Average age of hip replacement recipients is 70 years (patients ages ranged from 31 to 95 years).
  • Number of patients waiting as of Feb. 22, 2018, is 496.

South Island knee replacements:

  • As of Feb. 28, 2018, during the 2017-18 year, there were 750 knee replacements.
  • Average age of knee replacement recipients is 69 years (patients ages ranged from 43 to 92 years).
  • Number of patients waiting as of Feb. 22, 2018, is 703.

* Wait times are measured from the time a surgeon communicates a patient’s surgical needs to the hospital’s booking office.

Comparing the Richmond Hip and Knee Reconstruction Project vs. new provincial Hip and Knee Replacement Program

September 2004-10: Attributes of the former Richmond Hip and Knee Reconstruction Project:

Program Efficiencies:

  • Swing operating rooms
  • Bed mapping
  • Operating room scheduling and allocation
  • Standardization processes, equipment, devices and staff roles

Comprehensive Evaluation:

  • Monitoring waitlist management
  • Measuring operating room efficiencies
  • Tracking patient outcomes

Pre-surgical Support:

  • Improved patient education

Starting January 2018: Additional attributes of the provincial hip and knee replacement program strategy, building on the success of the Richmond Project: 

Program Efficiencies:

  • Dedicated operating rooms for surgical procedures
  • Transfers of surgical patients between sites to prevent delays if possible

Comprehensive Evaluation:

  • Comprehensive data analysis and evaluation for operating room efficiencies and waitlist management

Pre-surgical Support:

  • Surgical optimization and  supports to improve patient outcomes

Central Intake, Assessment and Triage:

  • Single point of access
  • Standardized referral and assessment
  • Appropriate redirection to non-surgical services
  • First available surgeon

Post-surgical Support:

  • Post-surgical nursing services
  • Rehabilitation

Self-management:

  • Support services, community resources, and information

Interdisciplinary Team-based Care:

  • Team of providers from both acute and primary care

Integration and Co-ordination:

  • Timely access to surgical expertise
  • Co-ordinated care and patient communication
  • Active primary and community care involvement