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System Performance

Measuring Wait Times for Cardiac Surgeries and Procedures

Priority levels and target times for cardiac surgeries in Ontario are set by surgeons, specialists and health care administrators across the province, based on clinical evidence, to guide treatment decisions and to improve patient access and outcomes.

Wait times in Ontario are measured and reported for the period from the patient and surgeon or specialist deciding to proceed with the cardiac surgery or procedure, to the patient having the surgery or procedure.

The following shows priority levels and access target times for three of the most common cardiac surgeries and procedures. (Angioplasty is a surgery also known as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Angiography is a procedure also known as Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization.)

Priority level of the patient's condition

Target time** from decision to having cardiac bypass

Target time** from decision to having angioplasty

Target time** from referral to having angiography

Priorities 1 and 2

Patient has surgery within 14 days of decision

Patient has surgery within 7 days of decision

Patient has procedure within 7 days of referral

Priority 3

Patient has surgery within 42 days of decision

Patient has surgery within 14 days of decision

Patient has procedure within 28 days of referral

Priority 4

Patient has surgery within 90 days of decision

Patient has surgery within 28 days of decision

Patient has procedure within 84 days of referral

**The target time within which 9 out of 10 patients are treated.

Measurement Numbers for Cardiac Surgery and Procedure Wait Times

Data for the wait times for cardiac surgeries and procedures in Ontario is reported using these measurement numbers:

  • The average number of days patients waited; a lower number is better.
  • The percentage of patients who were treated, within target time; a higher percentage is better.

Data Sources for Cardiac Surgery and Procedure Wait Times

Data is from the CorHealth Ontario of Ontario Cardiac Registry.

TIME FROM DECISION TO HAVING CARDIAC SURGERY OR PROCEDURE

How long patients waited from the surgery decision to having the cardiac surgery or procedure

Learn more

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