Cardiac Care

Wait Time Benchmarks for Cardiovascular Services and Procedures

Indication Upper limit wait time
Emergent Urgent Semi-urgent Scheduled
Initial specialist consultation Immediate to 24 h 1 week 4 weeks 6 weeks
Echocardiography 1 day 7 days 7 days 30 days
Cardiac nuclear imaging 1 day 3 days N/A 14 days
Valvular cardiac surgery Immediate to 24 h 14 days N/A 6 weeks
Heart failure services Immediate to 24 h 14 days 4 weeks 6 weeks
Cardiac rehabilitation Immediate* 3 days 7 days 30 days
Diagnostic catheterization
After ST segment elevation MI Immediate to 24 h 3 days 7 days N/A
After non-ST segment elevation ACS Immediate to 48 h 3 days 7 days N/A
Stable angina N/A N/A 14 days 6 weeks
Stable valvular heart disease N/A N/A 14 days† 6 weeks
Percutaneous coronary intervention
After ST segment elevation MI Immediate Immediate Immediate N/A
After non-ST segment elevation ACS Immediate Immediate Immediate N/A
Stable angina‡ N/A Immediate§ 14 days 6 weeks
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
After ST segment elevation MI Immediate to 24 h 7 days 14 days N/A
After non-ST segment elevation ACS Immediate to 48 h 14 days 14 days 6 weeks
Stable angina N/A N/A 14 days 6 weeks
Electrophysiology
Referral to electrophysiologist Immediate to 24 h 3 days 30 days 90 days
Permanent pacemaker N/A 3 days 2 weeks 6 weeks
Catheter ablation N/A 14 days N/A 3 months
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator N/A 3 days N/A 8 weeks**
Cardiac resynchronization therapy devices N/A N/A N/A 6 weeks

* Some patients have significant psychosocial issues (e.g., severe depression). Such patients should be managed by emergency or acute care psychiatry.

† For symptomatic aortic stenosis

‡ Ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention is appropriate for all patients with stable angina in centres that practice in that manner

§ Symptomatic

Secondary prevention

** Primary prevention

 

 

Related Items

Universal Access, but When? Treating the Right Patient at the Right Time: Wait Time Benchmarks for Cardiovascular Services and Procedures (2006)

Highlights of the National Survey on Access to Care at Tertiary Cardiac Care Centres

Canadian Cardiovascular Society Website