A new mammography unit is up and running at the Owen Sound hospital.
The digital unit was installed earlier this month.
Grey Bruce Health Services president and CEO Maureen Solecki told the hospital corporation’s board of directors meeting on Thursday, the unit is one of two being purchased by the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation in its annual Spring Campaign.
The foundation is raising $1.5 million for the campaign, and Solecki says the machinery is much-needed because the two units the hospital has been using are 17 and 14 years old.
What’s more, they’re film-based units.
Digital units will speed up the examination process and allow both physicians and radiologists quick and if necessary simultaneous access to images.
This will make it possible to do more exams, which will cut down on wait times.
Solecki says the hospital already performs almost nine thousand mammograms per year.
It’s been an Ontario Breast Screening Program centre for several years, making this new equipment even more vital.
Fundraising continues on the campaign.
Solecki says there is no timeline yet for the purchase and installation of the second digital unit.
