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Predicting Joint Replacement Waiting Times

Author
Cipriano, Lauren E.; Chesworth, Bert M.; Anderson, Chris K.; Zaric, Gregory S.
Abstract
Currently, the median waiting time for total hip and knee replacement in Ontario is greater than 6 months. Waiting longer than 6 months is not recommended and may result in lower post-operative benefits. We developed a simulation model to estimate the proportion of patients who would receive surgery within the recommended waiting time for surgery over a 10-year period considering a wide range of demand projections and varying the number of available surgeries. Using an estimate that demand will grow by approximately 8.7% each year for 10 years, we determined that increasing available supply by 10% each year was unable to maintain the status quo for 10 years. Reducing waiting times within 10 years required that the annual supply of surgeries increased by 12% or greater. Allocating surgeries across regions in proportion to each region’s waiting time resulted in a more efficient distribution of surgeries and a greater reduction in waiting times in the long-term compared to allocation strategies based only on the region’s population size.
Date Issued
2007-01-01Subject
waiting times; joint replacement; queuing simulation; projecting demand for health care services; surgical allocation planning; resource allocation
Related DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10729-007-9013-zRights
Required Publisher Statement: © Springer. Final version published as: Cipriano, L. E., Chesworth, B. M., Anderson, C. K., & Zaric, G. S. (2007). Predicting joint replacement waiting times. Health Care Management Science, 10(2), 195-215. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
Type
article