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Infrastructure and Capacity Planning – System Performance Data

With a growing and aging population, Ontario’s renal care system faces significant infrastructure and capacity pressures. Understanding demographic and population growth patterns is important to planning for future needs.

In-Centre Dialysis Occupancy Across Ontario

Results

Ten of 27 Regional Renal Programs exceeded their recommended maximum capacity for in-centre dialysis (dialysis at locations other than at home) in the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal year 2022/23. This number has decreased since the previous 2 quarters.

We recommend a maximum capacity for Regional Renal Programs of 85% occupancy (85% of dialysis patient spots being used) at hub sites, and 100% occupancy at each of the non-hub site dialysis facilities (i.e., off-site and satellite units). Hub sites provide a full range of renal care services. They must reserve capacity for patients who no longer meet the criteria for dialyzing at home or in a satellite location and need more complex care.

Why it matters

Measuring the use of hemodialysis resources helps Regional Renal Programs with their planning to ensure they can meet current and future dialysis needs across the province.

See Provincial Occupancy – Indicator Methodology for technical information.

Data Sources
Ontario Renal Reporting System, Regional Renal Program Operational Schedule Information

Percentage of Regional Renal Programs operating above their maximum recommended in-centre dialysis capacity, Q2 2021/22 to Q4 2022/23
Fiscal quarter Percentage of Regional Renal Programs
Q2 2021/22 56%
Q3 2021/22 48%
Q4 2021/22 41%
Q4 2022/23 59%
Q2 2022/23 56%
Q3 2022/23 33%
Q4 2022/23 37%

Data Source
Ontario Renal Reporting System, Regional Renal Program Operational Schedule Information

See Regional Renal Program Occupancy - Indicator Methodology for technical information.

Data Sources
Ontario Renal Reporting System, Regional Renal Program Operational Schedule Information

In-centre dialysis occupancy compared to recommended maximum capacity, by Regional Renal Program, Q1 2022/23
Regional Renal Program Occupancy Rate (compared to recommended maximum capacity) Recommended Maximum In-Centre Hemodialysis Treatment Capacity (capable to deliver within a given week) Number of Prevalent In-Centre Hemodialysis Treatments (delivered within a given week)
Timmins and District Hospital 129% 99 77
Scarborough Health Network 111% 2,280 2,046
North Bay Regional Health Centre 107% 207 194
William Osler Health System 106% 1,833 1,736
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre 105% 888 845
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre 105% 578 551
Sault Area Hospital 103% 243 236
Humber River Hospital 103% 1,676 1,634
Trillium Health Partners 102% 1,341 1,319
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre 101% 855 843
Grand River Hospital 99% 1,161 1,176
Mackenzie Health 97% 1,518 1,558
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton 97% 1,668 1,713
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital 97% 654 672
The Ottawa Hospital 96% 2,232 2,313
University Health Network 93% 1,200 1,291
Renfrew Victoria Hospital 93% 264 285
Lakeridge Health 92% 908 983
Kingston Health Sciences Centre 91% 1,184 1,298
St. Michael's Hospital 91% 1,338 1,469
Peterborough Regional Health Centre 90% 737 820
Health Sciences North 87% 779 893
Halton Healthcare Services 85% 845 995
London Health Sciences Centre 82% 1,913 2,340
St. Joseph's Health Centre Toronto 81% 627 776
Niagara Health System 81% 1,062 1,315
Windsor Regional Hospital 76% 792 1,040

Improving care in Ontario

We support Regional Renal Programs in several ways to improve access to dialysis:

  • Infrastructure and capacity planning, by providing:
    • dialysis capacity assessments with a 10-year outlook of forecasted demand for dialysis by region
    • quarterly in-centre hemodialysis occupancy reports
  • Strategic dialysis capacity plans developed by Regional Renal Programs to plan for forecasted future demand for in-centre dialysis
  • Funding to support Regional Regional Programs in purchasing dialysis machines and equipment