Measuring Wait Times for Other Surgeries and Procedures

Priority levels and target times for surgeries and procedures other than for pediatric, cancer, cardiac, orthopedic and eye 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 for these other types of surgeries and procedures are measured by two wait periods. (Data excludes patients who did not have the surgery or procedure after their first appointment with a surgeon or specialist.)

Time to the patient's first surgical or specialist appointment: How long patients waited from a surgeon, specialist or central intake office receiving the referral from the patient's family doctor, to the patient's first surgical or specialist appointment.

Time from decision for the surgery or procedure, to having the surgery/procedure: How long patients waited from deciding with the surgeon to proceed with surgery, to having the surgery.

Priority level of the patient's condition	Clinical description	Target time* to patient's first surgical or specialist appointment	Target time** range, depending on surgery or procedure, from decision to having other surgery or procedure
Priority 1	The patient could pass away if the surgery is not performed immediately	Not included in wait times data	Not included in wait times data
Priority 2	The patient experiences severe, difficult to manage symptoms which are likely getting worse	The patient sees surgeon or specialist within 30 days of referral received	The patient has surgery or procedure within 7 - 56 days of decision
Priority 3	The patient experiences some pain or other symptoms which do not dramatically impact the quality of life	The patient sees surgeon or specialist within 90 days of referral received	The patient has surgery or procedure within 28 - 112 days of decision
Priority 4	The patient may see their condition worsening; medical management may be failing to help the patient’s condition	The patient sees surgeon or specialist within 182 days of referral received	The patient has surgery or procedure within 84 - 182 days of decision

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

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

See what this means for patients

Measurement Numbers Used for Wait Times for Other Surgeries and Procedures

Data for the wait times for other surgeries and procedures is reported using these measurement numbers:

The average number of hours patients waited; a lower number is better.
The percentage of patients seen, or treated, within the target time; a higher percentage is better.