Why You Wait for Surgery

Emil H. Schemitsch, M.D., FRCSC
Editor in Chief

Dr. Hans Kreder recently wrote an opinion piece as titled above, for the Toronto Star daily newspaper on the profound effect that waiting lists are having on patients and health care providers. He correctly pointed out that expanding indications for orthopaedic procedures, an aging population that requires more such operations and an aging, declining workforce of orthopaedic surgeons means waiting lists will get longer in the years to come.

This opinion piece was followed by an eight-part series featured in the Toronto Star on waits endured by patients for various procedures. Dr. Kreder and Dr. Ted Rumble, who co-chair the COAs National Standards Committee, were quoted in this series about the need to increase operating time to address this issue. They should be congratulated for their efforts. Their Committee has produced a report that explores this issue in detail. To improve the situation, they suggest that orthopaedic surgeons require a minimum of four more hours per week in the operating room.

Dr. Rumble and Dr. Kreder have made a solid case that is easily understood by thousands of readers. Without this kind of public advocacy, we will not be able to affect change. Although the creation of reports and interaction with the media are costly and time consuming, they are absolutely necessary. With circulation in the hundreds of thousands, it is likely that this issue has received tremendous exposure. We as members of the COA should support these efforts and continue to try and spread this message.