A centralized system to reduce orthopedic waiting times in Canada. “In Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer, everyone with serious hip or knee pain was referred to a central assessment clinic. No patient waited more than 17 days after a referral from a GP.

Patients who didn’t need a hip or knee replacement were immediately triaged out. Those who did were assigned a care manager (a registered nurse) who guided them through the system, prepared them for surgery and ensured follow-up care such as physio.

The care manager connected the dots — and eliminated virtually all the waits in the process.

There were also structural changes, namely dedicated orthopedic surgeons in clinics with operating rooms specifically designed for hip and knee replacements. In other words, specialization and the efficiency that entails.”