New centralized hip and knee replacement surgery referral system giving patients more options

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is giving patients more choice and enhancing access to the next available surgeon for their hip and knee replacement surgery referrals through a new intake system launched in February.

"This centralized intake system is a game-changer for hip and knee replacement surgery patients in Saskatchewan," said Cindy Graham, Executive Director of Provincial Surgical Services for the SHA. "Patient-centred care is at the heart of this new system. It offers patients more surgical options in an effort to shorten wait times – from a choice of surgical location to the choice of a specific surgeon, to the next available surgeon – all while reducing barriers to accessing timely surgical care."

The intake system enhances information flow by centrally coordinating, tracking, and monitoring all referrals for hip and knee replacement surgeries in Saskatchewan. It improves patient decision-making and control by giving patients their choice of location and then connecting patients with the most appropriate surgeon based on their preferences.

“For patients, the system greatly improves their quality of care and it standardizes their care across all SHA facilities,” said Dr. Joan Wheat Hozack, an orthopedic surgeon based in Lloydminster and the SHA Surgical NW Area Lead. “When you have more control and can play a bigger part in your own surgical referral decision-making process you’ll have a better overall experience with the health system, from being more involved in your medical journey to better surgical outcomes and recoveries.”

Adoption of the centralized referral process has been rapid and extensive by both referring physicians and surgeons – who have indicated patients value more timely access to care. Already, 32 orthopedic surgeons are participating in the initiative across five surgical locations.

“It’s so easy to use and understand,” said Dr. Wheat Hozack. “Physicians find the referral process simple to follow and it eliminates the need to know the sub-specialties of the surgeons to whom they’re referring.”

Since February 2024, referral providers and their patients have chosen the next available surgeon 65 per cent of the time. For the first time in a referral system, patients can choose the acceptable location(s) of their surgery, with 20 per cent already opting for hip and knee replacement surgeries outside of their home location.

"Surgeons want a system that allows patients improved access to surgery with as short of a wait as possible," said Dr. Michael Kelly Provincial Head of Surgery for the SHA. “Surgeons support the central pooled referral system as it will reduce surgical wait times by level loading surgical referrals between all surgeons provincially and to more surgical locations. It’s helping to enhance and standardize the information patients receive prior to surgical consult, directly impacting their referral decisions."

Each participating orthopedic hip and knee surgeon in Saskatchewan receives referrals through this central intake system, which is designed to be flexible for each surgeon's capacity, designated operating room time and specialized services. All SHA orthopedic surgeons in Saskatchewan are exceptionally skilled and offer high-quality surgical services to their patients, regardless of location.

The new central referral intake also creates a more efficient system that will eliminate wait list duplication and avoid missed referrals. The data collected through the system will eventually help the SHA make data-driven decisions about future service delivery and opportunities for supportive services.

The Government of Saskatchewan provided the SHA with an additional $5.5 million in the recently released 2024-25 Provincial Budget for the surgical program in the coming year. The SHA is currently on pace to perform a record number of surgeries in 2023-24, with hip and knee surgeries accounting for the largest percentage of those procedures.

For more information for patients in the Hip and Knee Replacement referral process visit the surgical page on our website.