Summary: Kelowna Bone and Joint Health (formerly Kelowna Orthopedics) undertook a quality improvement project to lower the wait time to consultation to the most appropriate physician for patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) concerns. This was accomplished through the implementation of a centralized intake and triage process via a consolidated electronic medical record (EMR). To achieve further wait time reductions, referring physicians can now indicate “next available” MSK physician or surgeon if the patient has no preference for a specialist.
These efforts have not only reduced wait times but have resulted in other improvements including team collegiality, collaboration with the Divisions of Family Practice and Interior Health Authority, as well as a zeal to continue quality improvement efforts supported by aggregate data regarding the patient population served.