Patients Benefitting From First New MRI
HEALTH-Patients Benefitting From First New MRI
Patients living in southwestern Nova Scotia can look forward to faster diagnosis with the installation of the first of six new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units the government is purchasing to help improve wait times.
So far, 42 patients have been booked for Canada's cutting edge MRI scanner at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital including patients from the Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby counties. Access to the new MRI means patients don't have to travel to Halifax or wait as long to get neurology, head and neck, orthopedic abdominal and urological imaging.
"This is an important step for all Nova Scotians as we open the first of our new MRIs to provide diagnostic tests faster and allow for treatment to begin sooner," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont today, Sept. 15, at the official opening of the MRI in Yarmouth.
Expanding the MRI capacity in Nova Scotia was one of the top priorities for the provincial government which announced the purchase of the new MRI units for Yarmouth, Kentville, Antigonish and New Glasgow in December 2004. The province also agreed to replace two aging units in Halifax.
"We are doing what we said we would do to improve access. When these new machines are all in place, we will have doubled our access," said Mr. d'Entremont.
It is expected the rest of the units will be installed in each health district as renovations, human resource plans, and community funding come into place during the next year.
When that is complete, Nova Scotia will have a ratio of one MRI scanner for 117,500 people, among the best capacity in the country.
"South West Health and the hospital foundation is to be commended for being the first in the province to raise the money and hire the staff needed so this MRI can start helping patients," said Mr. d'Entremont.
About $12.5 million is going toward the purchase and installation of all MRI units. The funding was made possible through the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting Accord. The Yarmouth Hospital Foundation exceeded the required goal of $750,000 necessary (25 per cent of the cost of the unit) to purchase the MRI for the community.
The MRIs purchased from GE Healthcare bring a new level of MR scanning technology to Canada that enables providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, and other conditions earlier. An MRI can make detailed three-dimensional images of the body's soft tissues. General Electric Healthcare was awarded the tender for the provision of the new MRIs following a Nova Scotia government procurement process.
Until now, MRI machines were located in Halifax and Cape Breton only.
"There are many benefits to having an MRI in our district. Most importantly, our patients won't have to spend hours on the highway to Halifax to get these tests which can be very challenging if you are elderly or cannot drive yourself," said Blaise MacNeil, CEO, South West Health.
"The technology means that we should be able to attract more specialists and family physicians to the area knowing that they have access to the latest diagnostic imaging equipment, said Mr. MacNeil.