Indicator Metadata

Not applicable

The data set contains the following provincial and national wait time information for the first two quarters of the fiscal year (April–September):

Measures:

Wait times are obtained by calculating

1. The number of days half of patients in the sample received the surgery and half are still waiting (50th percentile)

2. The number of days that 90% of patients in the sample received the surgery and 10% are still waiting (90th percentile)

Unit of Analysis: Client or patient

Place of service

Number - 50th percentile, 90th percentile

None

Not applicable

Description:
Not applicable

Description:
1. The number of days that half of patients in the sample received the CT scan and half are still waiting (50th percentile)

2. The number of days that 90% of patients in the sample received the CT scan and 10% are still waiting (90th percentile)

Inclusions:
1. Age 18 and older

2. 3.^^.20. ^^ CT scan, any site

3. All priority levels
Exclusions:
1. Routine follow-up scans

2. Mammography screening and prenatal screening

In 2004, Canada's first ministers agreed to work toward reducing wait times for five priority areas: cancer treatment, cardiac care, diagnostic imaging, joint replacement and sight restoration. CIHI was mandated to collect wait time information and monitor provincial progress in meeting benchmarks.

Many factors affect wait times, for example, availability of resources, efficiency of a particular facility, seasonal effects, volumes, patient choice, patient condition, follow-up care and/or treatment complexity.

This indicator can be used to help understand access to care and to know how provinces are performing in providing access to services.

50th percentile means a time period that typical patients have to wait to receive care.

90th percentile means that provinces could treat 90% of patients within that time period.

Health System Outputs: Access to comprehensive, high-quality health services

Getting Better

Not applicable

Health Canada. A 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. Health Canada. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/delivery-prestation/fptcollab/2004-fmm-rpm/index-eng.php. Updated September 16, 2004. Accessed June 7, 2013.

Provincial Wait Times Registry, Data may come from various sources, depending on the province.

Type of Year:
Fiscal
First Available Year:
2008
Last Available Year:
2018

Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia

Province/Territory

Every year

Web Tool:
Wait Times
URL: http://waittimes.cihi.ca/All/ctscan

There might be some provincial exceptions to the standard methodology each year. For more information, visit the Wait Times website and view provincial exceptions (http://waittimes.cihi.ca/All/ctscan).

Some provinces may have some exceptions and their methodology may be slightly different than the standard methodology. For more information, visit the Wait Times website and view provincial exceptions (http://waittimes.cihi.ca/All/ctscan).

Since 2008, an increasing number of provinces have adapted to the standard methodology to increase the comparability of results. When comparing several years of data for a particular province, attention should be given to the exceptions. For more information, visit the Wait Times website and view provincial exceptions (http://waittimes.cihi.ca/All/ctscan).

Not applicable