The centralized intake system for hip and knee replacement surgery is a game changer, according to the Executive Director of Provincial Surgical Services for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Cindy Graham explains that the system offers more surgical options in an effort to shorten wait times. You can choose your surgical location, your surgeon, or you can book with the next available surgeon.

Dr. Joan Wheat Hozack, who is an orthopaedic surgeon and the SHA Surgical Northwest Area Lead, says so far 32 orthopaedic surgeons are participating across five surgical locations. Since February, referral providers and their patients have chosen the next available surgeon 65 per cent of the time.

The province provided the SHA with $5.5 million in the recently released budget for the surgical program in the next fiscal year, which begins April 1st.