How Wait Times Are Calculated

This website provides the most recent diagnostic imaging wait time data available. Data is updated quarterly.

Saskatchewan is in the process of changing its method of reporting wait times for diagnostic imaging services, to make its data more meaningful for patients, more accurate, and more comparable to national wait time reporting.

New Reporting Method

The new data will give patients a reasonable indication of when their procedures will occur:

50^th percentile data (50% completed within or "median") shows the number of days in which half of all patients seen waited. Half of patients receive service sooner, and half wait longer.

90^th percentile data (90% completed within) shows the number of days it took to provide service to the majority of patients. Only 10% of patients wait longer.

Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region is the first health region to use the new reporting method, and Saskatoon is currently transitioning to the new method.

Current Reporting Method

Most health regions will continue to report "estimated maximum wait times" until they transition to the new method.

Wait times are estimates based on the next available slot in the schedule, not on completed cases. (See Definitions below.) Each health region provides an estimated maximum wait time in days, rather than an average wait time. Generally, very few patients wait longer than the reported wait time.

Definitions

Wait time - The number of days between the date an imaging department receives a request for an examination, and the date the examination is scheduled.

Median (50^th percentile) - The number of days by which half of patients have received their test, and the other half are still waiting.

90^th Percentile - The number of days by which 90% of patients have received their test. Only 10% of patients wait longer.

Data Notes

Median and 90^th percentile data is calculated using actual wait times of completed cases within the most recent month.  The median (50^th percentile or very middle number) and 90^th percentile are reported. 

Data Included: all completed wait list entries with a procedure date falling within the date range.

Data Excluded: procedures with a Priority 1 (emergency) urgency rating; cases identified as "follow-up" or "specified date procedures" (scheduled for a specific time frame in future)