Sudbury Regional Hospital showed off its new diagnostic equipment at a public event May 19.
According to a press release put out by the hospital, the equipment, which was purchased for the new one-site hospital, is the “most advanced diagnostic equipment in Canada.”
“We now have a truly impressive centre of diagnostic excellence under one roof, and a much enhanced continuum of care,” Dr. Denis Roy, the hospital's president and CEO, said in a press release.
“Our new hospital and the access to modern technology it provides is helping save lives and improve patient care.”
The hospital's diagnostic imaging service features the latest digital diagnostic technology and equipment, including two Computerized Tomography (CT) units, a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, and two new angiography units, the press release said.
With the addition of ultrasound and radiography (x-ray), the hospital’s investment exceeds $10 million.
“Over the years the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation has purchased millions of dollars worth of diagnostic equipment for this department,” Joe Drago, chairman of the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation, said.
“Each of these tools has helped save lives here in northeastern Ontario.”
Diagnostic Imaging Area Highlights
A new 16-channel MRI designed and programmed to provide the optimal method to scan specific areas of the body, providing greater clarity and accuracy of diagnosis at higher speed. Fully upgradeable as new system enhancements become available, the new MRI also has other innovative features such as a detachable table, allowing MRI staff to prepare one patient while scanning another, further improving efficiency.Two state-of-the-art 64-slice CT units allow for greater speed and volume of information when investigating illness or injury during the 17,000+ CT exams conducted each year. Both units are also compatible with exciting new advances such as Cardiac CT and Virtual Colonography.
Two digital Angiography suites used by Radiologists and Vascular Surgeons to investigate and treat all non-cardiac vascular issues (legs, arms, thoracic, head.)
Three digital x-ray suites provide more detail and a lowered dose of radiation. An additional digital x-ray suite is located directly in the Emergency Department (ED).
Three new digital ultrasound units dedicated to serving in-patients and the ED.
A digital Fluoroscopy suite provides the most technically accurate outpatient gastro-intestinal (GI) procedures available in a healthcare setting to date. The HRSRH Technologist Fluoroscopy Program, in which patients receive G.I. and Barium enemas from technologists in consultation with Radiologists, has virtually eliminated wait times for these procedures.
The DI Department and its technological advancements are tied together by the Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS). PACS is an electronic system that acquires fully digital images from all diagnostic imaging (including X-ray, CT, MRI, etc.), allowing for instant review by physicians, as well as storage, distribution and reporting by computer without the use of standard film.
The HRSRH operates a completely filmless system, and is connected through PACS to other hospitals in the Northeast Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN). Stored diagnostic images from all hospitals on the system are now available 24/7 via secure computer network. The system also has Voice Recognition Technology, resulting in a significantly decreased turnaround time in reporting for radiologists.
