Orthopedic Surgery

Waiting lists for access to orthopedic surgery have increased, every year, since records began to be kept.  Notwithstanding the infusion of billions of dollars into the “system”, people are simply not getting orthopedic care in a timely fashion.

There are 5 significant problems:

1. Due to bed shortages, orthopedic surgeons in Canada have their operating room time rationed.  A typical surgeon gets only 6 hours per week of actual surgery time.  The orthopedist’s own association believes a surgeon requires twice as much operating time (12 hours) at a minimum, in order to maintain their skill levels.
2. The time orthopedic patients spend on waiting lists (up to 3 years in some cases) is significantly greater than surgeons believe is clinically appropriate.  This is confirmed by the U.S. orthopedic surgeons with whom we deal.  Prior to receiving referrals from Timely Medical Alternatives (these surgeons tell us), they had never seen such severe degradation of hip, knee and shoulder joints.  Why is this?  Because there are virtually zero waits for medical care in the U.S.  There, if you need a knee replacement, you get it virtually immediately.
3. As the population ages, the Baby Boomers are entering the stage in their lives when joints start to fail.  If the waiting lists seemed long up to this point, wait until 2012.  Will the waits be twice as long 5 years from now? Very likely!
4. For the most part, the Canadian healthcare system will only pay for the most basic model of implant.  In many provinces, it is impossible to get a higher grade of implant – even if the patient is willing to pay for it.  A 50 year old hip replacement patient in Canada, may have to endure 2 more (revision) surgeries in his/her lifetime.  A patient going to the US is able to get a higher performing implant, potentially reducing the number of subsequent revisions.
5. Age discrimination.  Because the number of implants is rationed in Canada, joint replacement surgery is typically not offered to patients less than 45, nor to patients over 90.  Both these groups are treated, typically, symptomatically with pain killers.  At least a 40 year old need only suffer for 5 years until reaching the magic age of 45.  A 90 year old has very little likelihood of ever getting the surgery. Our oldest joint replacement client at Timely Medical was 92.  She is, now 95, and still active (and pain free), in her garden.