In 2023, the care for people living with inflammatory arthritis in the Northwest Territories (NWT) was transferred from in-territory to clinical care in Edmonton. Currently, approximately 80% of the referred NWT rheumatology patients have established care in Edmonton, with the remaining 20% either refusing to travel or cancelled their appointments. The influx of these patients has had significant impact in care, with waiting times 10 times longer as a result for all rheumatology referrals in central and northern Alberta. Arthritis Consumer Experts has engaged over the past three years with the Government of the Northwest Territories to find a longer-term solution that prioritizes high-quality care closer to home.
In this episode of Arthritis At Home, we are sharing the #CRArthritis interview with rheumatology resident Dr. Whitney Hung and Dr. Steven Katz, Director and Professor in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Alberta. The duo provides a summary of their poster presentation: Uncovering Rheumatologic Disease in the Northwest Territories: First Comprehensive Baseline Study and Comparative Insights.
Dr. Hung and Dr. Katz highlight the long wait times and high rate of patient no-shows or cancellations in the NWT and describe what are the biggest barriers preventing patients from accessing timely rheumatology care, and what can be done to improve access. They also comment on their study that suggests Indigenous and female patients may be disproportionately affected by access barriers and recommend what steps can be taken to ensure more equitable care for these populations.
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