Province Announces $1 Million in New Health Equipment
New digital diagnostic imaging equipment at South Shore Health will allow area physicians and their patients to make faster and better treatment decisions.
The Department of Health is investing more than $1 million in the new equipment as part of the Picture Archive and Communications System (PACS) expansion project. The project will replace nearly all film-based imaging in the province with faster, safer and more streamlined processes.
PACS gives physicians instant access to results of diagnostic imaging tests including CT scans, X-rays and ultrasounds. The PACS system in South Shore Health is expected to be up and running in May 2005.
"Our plan continues to be to introduce new information technology across the province that will ultimately improve the quality of care and access to tests and treatment," Health Minister Angus MacIsaac said today, April 15. "In fact, the PACS system is already making a difference for patients in communities where it has been implemented, including quicker treatment decisions and the reduction of unnecessary travel for some patients."
The PACS system is currently in place in the districts of South West Health, Capital Health, Cumberland Health and at the IWK Health Centre. These systems will be upgraded and enhanced to a common standard as part of the project.
"The advantage of the PACS system is increased efficiency, which has the potential to significantly impact the care patients receive," said Dr. Arthur Marshall, clinical department head, diagnostic imaging, South Shore Health. "For example, in the case of a hip injury, the X-ray will be instantly available to the orthopedic surgeon, regardless of whether the surgeon is in Bridgewater, Kentville or Halifax. This allows them to make quicker decisions about whether a patient requires surgery and where."
"This is wonderful news for the patients, staff and physicians in our district," said South Shore Health CEO Kevin McNamara. "We appreciate the public's support and co-operation as we make the transition to the new system."
The PACS expansion project is a partnership between the Health districts in Nova Scotia, the Department of Health and Canada Health Infoway, a federal agency supporting electronic health record initiatives across Canada. The project began in 2004 at a total cost of $25 million. Canada Health Infoway funds 75 per cent of specific elements of the project that meet its funding criteria.