New tool compares surgery wait times across Ontario hospitals

A cardiac operating room is seen at St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, Ont., on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013. (David Imrie / CTV Kitchener)

Ontarians can now use a new online tool to see wait times for certain surgeries and compare them at hospitals across the province.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced today that it was developed with Health Quality Ontario and can be found on that website.

It includes the length of time between a referral and first appointment with a specialist or surgeon, as well as the time between a decision being made to book a procedure and the date it's performed.

The province is investing nearly $13 million over two years to expand eReferral systems that connect patients and primary care providers to specialists and other health care services in several regions including Waterloo-Wellington, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant, and across the north.

Ontario is also developing an electronic version of immunization cards.

Hoskins says digital health care is one of the greatest tools for patient empowerment.