Prioritization programs using clinical and psychosocial factors should be established in Australia to make access to elective surgery more equitable and consistent.
Does the implementation of prioritization programs using clinical and psychosocial factors improve consistent prioritization and equitable access to surgery in patients on waiting lists for elective surgery?
Highlights the need for standardized prioritization programs for elective surgery waiting lists in Australia to ensure equitable access.
In the Australian public health system, access to elective surgery is rationed through the use of waiting lists in which patients are assigned to broad urgency categories. Surgeons are principally responsible for referring patients to waiting lists, deciding on the appropriate urgency category, and selecting patients from the waiting list to receive surgery. There are few agreed-upon criteria to help surgeons make these decisions, leading to striking differences between institutions in proportions of patients allocated to urgency categories. In other countries with publicly funded health systems, programs have been developed that aim to make prioritisation more consistent and access to surgery more equitable. As demand for health care increases, similar programs should be established in Australia using relevant clinical and psychosocial factors. Prioritisation methodology adapted for elective surgery may have a role in prioritising high-demand procedures in other areas of health care.
Curtis et al. (2010) conducted a review in Elective surgery waiting lists. Prioritization programs using clinical and psychosocial factors was evaluated. Prioritization programs using clinical and psychosocial factors should be established in Australia to make access to elective surgery more equitable and consistent.