Patients with emergency conditions (Priority 1) are seen immediately and are not included in wait times data. Priority levels 2, 3, and 4 are determined by surgeons, specialists, and other health care providers, based on clinical evidence, to guide treatment decisions and improve patient access and outcomes.
Wait times for these other types of surgeries and procedures in Ontario are measured and reported for two periods: Wait 1 and Wait 2. Data excludes patients who did not have the surgery or procedure after their first appointment with a surgeon or specialist.
Time from referral to first surgical or specialist appointment (Wait 1): How long patients waited from a surgeon, specialist or central intake office receiving the referral from the patients’ family doctor, to the patients’ first surgical or specialist appointment.
Time from decision to surgery/procedure (Wait 2): How long patients waited from deciding with the surgeon to proceed with surgery, to having the surgery.
Metrics reported for the wait times for other surgeries and procedures, for priority levels 2, 3 and 4, and those three priority levels combined:
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The average number of days patients waited. A lower number is better.
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The median number of days patients waited (half of the patients waited fewer than this number of days and the other half waited longer). A lower number is better.
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The 90th percentile number of days patients waited (90% of patients waited this number of days or fewer, while 10% waited longer). A lower number is better.
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The percentage of patients seen, or treated, within the target time for the 90th percentile (the target time within which 90% of patients were seen or treated). A higher percentage is better.
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The volume, or number of patients seen or treated during the month reported.
| Priority level of the patients’ condition | Clinical description | Target time* to patients’ first surgical or specialist appointment | Target time** range, depending on surgery or procedure, from decision to having other surgery or procedure |
| Priority 1 | Patients could pass away if the surgery is not performed immediately | Not included in wait times data reported | Not included in wait times data reported |
| Priority 2 | Patients experience severe, difficult to manage symptoms which are likely getting worse | Patients see surgeon or specialist within 30 days of referral received | Patients have surgery or procedure within 7 - 56 days of decision |
| Priority 3 | Patients experience some pain or other symptoms which do not dramatically impact the quality of life | Patients see surgeon or specialist within 90 days of referral received | Patients have surgery or procedure within 28 - 112 days of decision |
| Priority 4 | Patients may see their condition worsening; medical management may be failing to help the patients’ condition | Patients see surgeon or specialist within 182 days of referral received | Patients have surgery or procedure within 84 - 182 days of decision |
*The target time within which 90% of patients are seen.
**The target time within which 90% of patients are treated.
Data source for other surgeries and procedures:
Wait Time Information System™ (WTIS™), Ontario Health