MRI results wait time: 16 days

April 30, 2018

I received the following email:

“We have received your MRI results and Dr. _____ would like to see you back in the AKIC to go over those results on:

Wednesday, May 16th at 10:45am.  (16 day wait time)

We are happy to report that there are no urgent surgical findings in your #knee. Please continue with rehab exercises (ie. physiotherapy, athletic therapy, or home strengthening/flexibility program) and activities as tolerated.  Please remain in linear activity only (no pivoting or twisting) and no impact exercise (no running or jumping).

Please reply to this email confirming the above appointment”

To which I promptly replied:

“Are there any non-urgent surgical findings?

It really blows my mind I know 2 people who had MRI's scheduled, results provided and in 1 case surgery conducted in less than 2 weeks, and I have to wait over 2 weeks just to review them.  A phone call would be great to give me an idea of what's going on. 

Also wondering if I am better to have results sent to my previous sports medicine doctor in Toronto and fly their to speed receipt of diagnosis.  I understand from my healthcare background this is due to the medical care system setup, not individual people.  If you would like to reduce your turn around times, I would be happy to help.

As for your recommendation not to run or jump, I can barely walk.

Evening prior to MRI I stepped off a curb and bent my knee more than it wanted, and it has been quite challenging since then.
Confirming the appointment in half a month.”

The step off the curb 3 days prior brought the inflammation back to where it started. 

Received call from AKIC doctor at U Calgary next day, who provided some clarification.  Very grateful for this.

*even though the radiologist completed their report promptly, & the doctor received it, there’s still a 16 day wait time for results instead of scheduling them within 24 hours of actual availability.  Go back 4 & 7 posts to see examples how wait times are reduced with lean healthcare in the emergency room and MRI, which can be done

Total Wait Time so far for diagnosis: 40 days

Plus the additional 16 days now.

MRI - Richmond Road Diagnostic - Alberta Health Services

I want to mention how grateful I am we actually have access to healthcare.

Just the fact that it is available at all in a world where many don't have the option.

A lot of people complain without offering a solution or appreciating the fact that despite the imperfections, we're lucky to be in this part of the world.

Last 2 weeks I'm starting to walk (limp?) a bit better despite limited range of motion; has it improved slightly?  for straightening I have gotten it a cm or two closer to the ground, not sure if that translates to a degree or more.

Still very slow, just to & from parking lot for work & necessities, which has been treacherous at times.

Lucky snow & ice is gone in the city; would not have been able to walk on ice.

Apr 26

- evening before MRI

stepped off curb; it must have been a bit lower than I expected, likely I was going a bit too fast as I feel things are improving - bending beyond the comfort zone and couldn't stay up, naturally caught myself with the other leg & hands on the road.  Push through the pain to straighten it again, stood up and assessed.  Sat on my bumper for a few minutes while it settled down.  Hopefully it didn't make anything worse; happy the MRI is tomorrow and we can finally get a diagnosis. 

Surprised no one stopped to ask if everything's alright; there's a fair bit of traffic in this area - it wouldn't have help me, but what if it was someone else that actually needed help?

After this I decide to start keeping detailed notes regarding #injury progress & how it feels.

Apr 27

- MRI scan

- 37 days after injury

- surprisingly long walk from front door to the MRI lab, a great exercise in patience for me.

wait time of 37.4 days for 15-30 minute scan Alberta Health Services

*side note

- within the week I waited, my friend requested & received and MRI at a private clinic in Calgary

- so the problem at Alberta Health is not a shortage of access to equipment or capacity.  Had my appointment not been moved up I would have done the same, as the doctor explained there is a window to treat these injuries for a positive outcome

Diagnosis still pending - wait time 29.4 days

Apr 18, 2018

another chiropractor appt, we work around the thrombosis. 

Hats off to Jacquelyn at 360brainbody who noticed I should get the additional ultrasound & has been helpful throughout.

Apr 19

Interested in finally getting diagnosis

32 days after injury. 

The Acute Knee Injury Clinic at U of C provides a great service and can often diagnose without the need for an MRI. 

They experience a spike in skiers as knee clinic patients in March / spring time.

Due to my limited range of motion, they couldn't assess and are concerned it might be leg lock; they want an MRI, bumped it up from next year to next week. 

see last post link for how MRI wait times could be reduced through introducing continuous improvement.

wait time (non-value add) 29.4 days

service (value add time) <60min

HOW TO REDUCE MRI TIMES

Here's an example

HOW TO REDUCE MRI TIMES:  

https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/rg.347140025

This was done at Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Henry Ford Hospital,

2799 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI.

It is more complex than most I would expect, and the team did not quit, they followed through their learning. 

I've been implementing Lean for 10 years, part of that in healthcare, if you have questions or a hospital CEO interested in leading your facility to obtain these results.

It works. 

The question is are you learning how to apply it Alberta Health Services?