Sun Country Health Region has purchased a CT scanner from General Electric for the Region and is continuing plans for renovations to St. Joseph's Hospital of Estevan where the service will be located.
"We are very pleased to be a partner with the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation which has pledged to purchase the $1.2 million CT scanner, and renovate the hospital to accommodate it," says Marga Cugnet, President and CEO, Sun Country Health Region, and Greg Hoffort, Executive Director of St. Joseph's Hospital.
"We expect the new service for the people of the Region will be available by October. We are planning for improved and easier access to this service for our patients," says Mrs. Cugnet.
A committee of experienced health professionals narrowed the search for the equipment to three companies earlier this year and made the final choice of GE recently.
"We have a lot of work to do now that the contract has been awarded," says Cugnet.
"St. Joseph's has had one staff member trained to perform the scans but we need at least two more. That is happening now. GE will help plan and oversee the renovations so the equipment can be installed properly."
The Region is also tendering in the province for a radiology group to read the scans produced. The images will be sent electronically and no radiologist will be onsite. Medical doctors already practicing in Estevan will also need some training to deal with some specialized scans.
The CT scanner provides more information to assist with a medical diagnosis than an ordinary x-ray. It has many uses, but is especially useful to quickly examine people with internal injuries from car accidents or other types of trauma. A CT scan can be used to visualize nearly all parts of the body and is used to diagnose disease or injury, as well as to plan medical or surgical treatment.
The equipment is particularly critical for the timely diagnosis and treatment of people who may be experiencing a stroke so that if the stroke is caused by a clot, the appropriate medication can be delivered within the designated timelines.
"This additional imaging technology will help to improve the quality of life of patients and that's what health care is intended to do," says Cugnet.
