The South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC) is welcoming the arrival of a new CT scanner at its Kincardine site.
The SBGHC says the new scanner from Germany arrived on Feb. 27 and will be installed and commissioned in the coming weeks in the new 2,000 square foot addition to the facility, which will treat its first patient later this month.
President and CEO of the SBGHC Michael Barrett says they are now in the home stretch of this project to provide a much-needed service to the community.
“Patients in Kincardine will no longer have to travel out of their community for CT service, ensuring that they can complete their required diagnostics in a timely manner. This project also represents the first step in the expansion of the Kincardine hospital which will see an expanded emergency department, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, front entrance and loading area,” says Barrett.
A number of medical radiation technologists have completed their in person training at the Walkerton site, and will also undergo virtual training ahead of treating their first patients. They will also complete a hands-on training program for eight weeks following the implementation.
The use of the new machine will gradually increase over this period and the Walkerton CT department will continue to accept urgent requests.
President of the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation Becky Fair adds, “we are thrilled to see the CT scanner arrive this week, bringing an important diagnostic service for patients at the hospital and residents of Kincardine and surrounding communities without having to travel out of town. We cannot thank our community enough for their generous support, and we look forward to their continued support as we progress through the next phase of the expansion, and our capital campaign, Building Health Care for Generations,” says Fair.
Funding for this project was provided by the foundation and Ontario Government, as well as a $1 million contribution from Bruce Power.
“It will be so nice for our patients not to have to travel to Walkerton any longer to have these scans performed. The CT will allow us to provide safer and more efficient care in the emergency department and on the inpatient unit,” says Dr. Jason Murray.
