Waterloo Wellington cataract central intake

The Waterloo Wellington Cataract Central (CI) Intake was established in April 2021; ​in a 5-month period it has processed over ​1,300 referrals.

• 53% of referrals were sent to the CI as Ocean eReferrals, while referrals received at the CI as fax are transcribed into Ocean and sent on to the specialist via Ocean eReferral​
• 93% of referrals received at the CI have ​been complete

Key takeaways

The Waterloo Wellington Cataract Central Intake (CI) was ​established in April 2021 and is already seeing improvements in ​wait times while enhancing patient and provider experience​.

The 90th percentile wait time has decreased from 351 days at ​1 month post go-live, down to 309 days 5 months post go-live; ​a wait time reduction of 42 days*​

*The 90th percentile wait time is the time in which 90% of patients are seen​

The CI model provides patients the choice on how they would like their referral triaged, current data shows:

• 50% of patients indicated they preferred a specific surgeon​
• 31% indicated they would prefer the first available surgeon ​
• 19% indicated they would prefer the surgeon closest to their home

Over 200 patients have consented to receive email notifications related to their eReferral​

This [patient email notification] ​
is very convenient and much better than playing phone tag with an admin office​

eReferral Cataract Surgery Patient
Waterloo Wellington​

Central Intake provides one location ​
to send referrals and/or to contact ​
for status updates. It prevents ​
patients from being lost in the ​
system, distributes referrals equitably, prevents duplication of referrals and thereby reduces wait times​

Debbie Hollahan
Director,​ WW Regional Coordination Centre​