Bulletin

Improving Wait Times for Surgical Patients

October 19, 2009

A new patient registry will improve surgical wait times by providing more timely and accurate information to district health authorities and doctors.

The Pictou County Health Authority was the first district to go live with the new Patient Access Registry Nova Scotia. The rest of the province is joining one DHA at a time with Annapolis Valley District Health Authority second.

The Department of Health and district health authorities are working together to implement the Patient Access Registry Nova Scotia across the province by July 2010.

The registry will provide a better understanding of where more surgeries can be performed and where additional resources may be needed.

Patients will know where they are in the queue, and when they are likely to receive their surgery.

Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says the registry will help patients get care faster and the province make better decisions about where to put resources.

Provincial Surgery Project Fact Sheet
Improving Access to Surgical Services in Nova Scotia (PDF)