Canada · 4 d ago
University of Manitoba researchers test AI to cut surgical wait times
Median wait for orthopedic surgery
170 days
More than 1,300 people are waiting for orthopedic surgery in Manitoba, and the median wait is 170 days.
The system, called ORION, is meant to predict surgical needs and improve operating room scheduling, and will be tested at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre. It will first analyze 10 years of patient data, then be tested on live scheduling in the second year.
What we know
- A preliminary version raised efficiency up to 30%
- It will first be run on 10 years of past data
Not yet
- Whether it works on live scheduling
- Whether waits actually fall
Lead researcher Dr. Jay Toor, an orthopedic surgeon, believes it could allow 5 to 8 per cent more orthopedic surgeries and cut waits by up to 15 per cent. He estimates the province could save $2 million to $4 million a year.
Guy Arnel paid about $35,000 for back surgery in Mexico last year and now needs hip surgery. He was told the wait in Manitoba could reach 18 months.
