SASKATOON RECEIVES FUNDING TO REPLACE MRI

Saskatoon Health Region is receiving $10 million in provincial funding to replace the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at Royal University Hospital and complete the renovations necessary to house it.

Health Minister Len Taylor made the announcement today, saying the purchase is part of the province’s plan to improve public health care by investing in replacement of needed diagnostic imaging equipment, improving access to services and reducing wait times.

“Through careful investment and planning, we have shortened our MRI wait list by more than 40 per cent over the last two years,” Taylor said.  “This funding will allow us to build on that momentum, and continue to provide residents with the health services they need, when they need them.”

Saskatchewan hospitals are targeted to complete more than 23,000 MRI exams in 2006-07, an increase of about 29 per cent over the previous year.  The province has steadily expanded its capacity to meet the rising demand, by extending operating hours for its existing machines and purchasing a second MRI for Regina in late 2005.

“The Saskatoon Health Region is extremely excited about the introduction of this state of the art MRI technology,” Saskatoon Health Region vice president Sandra Blevins said.  “The funding announced will allow SHR to purchase a 3.0 Telsa MRI system which will improve patient throughput, increase the quality of MRI examinations available, and give us a useful tool to recruit and retain highly trained health care professionals.”

Saskatchewan’s MRI wait list has dropped 42 per cent over the past two years, thanks to expanded MRI operating hours and the purchase of Regina’s second MRI.  The number of patients waiting for tests continues to fall steadily, despite increasing demand for MRI exams.

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For more information, contact:

Joan Petrie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: jpetrie@health.gov.sk.ca