Manitoba doctors launch COVID-19 surgical monitoring dashboard, diagnostic backlogs – Winnipeg

Manitoba doctors have launched an online dashboard that tracks the surgical and diagnostic backlogs due to COVID-19 and now estimate that the backlog has reached more than 136,000 cases.

The latest number is up from about 130,000 cases the group estimated between October and 110,000 in June.

Dr Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba, said: “Doctors are concerned to see the pandemic backlog increase again. Tracking the scale of this incredible backlog is crucial to understanding the magnitude of the problem that needs to be addressed.

“That’s why we’ve launched a new dashboard, to track progress until the backlog is completely resolved.”

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The advocacy group representing 4,000 doctors in Manitoba says the new diagnostic and surgical backlog dashboard will be updated regularly to be able to track changes over time.

You can find the dashboard on Doctor Manitoba’s website.

The team said waiting lists and backlogs that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic were not included in the panel numbers.

Shared in a media release Monday, the current backlog includes more than 53,805 surgical procedures, 39,701 imaging tests and 42,596 other diagnostic procedures.

The Manitoba doctors said the increase was mainly driven by the addition of the new procedure – the sleep disorder study – to the estimate.

The numbers provided by the team show there have been 4,791 fewer sleep studies conducted during the pandemic, potentially doubling wait times for procedures.

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Surgery backlog grows to 130,000: Manitoba doctors

Meanwhile Thompson acknowledged the province has made positive progress in the area of ​​diagnostic imaging, with backlogs of procedures such as MRI scans and ultrasound tests falling in October.

However, the recent decision to cancel some surgical and endoscopic facilities at Winnipeg hospitals to increase resources for the projected increase in the number of COVID-19 cases is estimated to add approximately 170 to 235 cases backlog each week, Thompson added.

“We call on all Manitobans to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” Thompson said.

“Because we are now on a trajectory that leads to more cases, more hospitalizations and, as a result, more canceled surgeries.”

Have a question about COVID-19? Here are a few things you need to know:

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