AI system aims to tackle surgical wait times in Manitoba

Dr. Jay Toor, an assistant professor at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and orthopedic surgeon at Concordia Hospital and Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, is spearheading an initiative to develop The Operating Room Intelligence and Optimization Network (ORION). This AI-powered system is designed to forecast surgical needs and optimize operating room schedules, proactively addressing scheduling issues. A preliminary version of the program previously implemented at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto demonstrated a 30% increase in efficiency, achieved without expanding facilities or staff.

The project will initially analyze ten years of historical patient data from Health Sciences Centre (HSC), Manitoba’s largest hospital, to assess the accuracy of the AI model’s predictions. Following this, the team will conduct prospective testing. “I’m very optimistic we’re going to be the first jurisdiction that uses a predicted and optimized AI model to schedule our surgeries,” Toor stated.

Researchers estimate ORION could increase orthopedic surgery capacity by 5-8% and reduce wait times by up to 15%, potentially saving the province $2-4 million annually. Toor emphasized the importance of optimizing existing resources before expanding infrastructure.

One Manitoban patient, Guy Arnel, has firsthand experience with the challenges of surgical wait times. After years of back pain, he sought surgery in Mexico for approximately $35,000. Now facing hip surgery with an estimated 18-month wait in Manitoba, Arnel is again considering out-of-province options, which range from $12,000 to $30,000. “I’m still an active guy. I do lots of crazy stuff. Now I can’t do anything. Just sit and wait,” he said. He expressed skepticism about the potential impact of the new technology, stating, “I feel like this is the way it is.”