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Vascular Access Surgery Wait Times

Reducing vascular access surgery wait times is critical for patients to receive equitable access to timely, high-quality care. Wait time targets are determined in consultation with Regional Renal Programs. Wait times data is used to evaluate, report on and improve wait times and care practices.

Wait Time Data Collection

Ontario collects data on 2 wait time intervals for arteriovenous (AV) fistula and arteriovenous graft surgery:

  • Wait 1 is the time that a patient waits for a first consultation with a clinician. It is measured from the date the referral is received to the date of the first consultation. Patient-related reasons is subtracted from the overall Wait 1 duration.
  • Wait 2 is the time that the patient waits for a surgery. It is measured from the decision-to-treat date to the date of the surgery. 

Surgery Priority Assessment

Surgeons assess timing of the fistula or graft surgery (Wait 2) based on a priority scale from 1 to 4 as described in the Adult Priority Assessment Tool.

Request for a new vascular access
TIME UNTIL DIALYSIS INITIATION TARGET WAIT TIME
Patient already on dialysis Within 4 weeks
6 months or less Within 4 weeks
More than 6 months Within 26 weeks
Request for consultation on an existing arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft
DESCRIPTION TARGET WAIT TIME
Existing access is failing to provide adequate dialysis or is rapidly failing Within 2 weeks
The access is a maturation failure requiring revision Within 4 weeks