More than 100 people are waiting for joint surgery in the Northwest Territories while Stanton Territorial Hospital upgrades an operating room.
Hip and knee replacements have a much higher risk of infection, and the hospital has cancelled these surgeries for almost a year while it turns one of its operating rooms into what it calls a "super-clean OR."
The quarter of a million dollar changes include installing a high efficiency air filtration system to better prevent infection.
"Why do I say that it is worth it? One hip infection costs at least $30,000, and that is not including the grief and stuff a patient has to go through," said Dr. Jim Corkal, medical director with the Stanton Territorial Health Authority.
Corkal says some patients on the wait list have opted to have surgeries at hospitals outside the territory.
The Health Authority hopes to have its super-clean operating room up and running by April.
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