HEALTH REGIONS RECEIVING DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING EQUIPMENT

Saskatchewan is investing $4.8 million in diagnostic imaging equipment for health regions.

The funding will help regions and hospitals continue implementation of digital technology, and replace or upgrade older diagnostic imaging equipment.

"We recognize the importance of providing our hospitals and health care professionals with the tools and technology they need to provide high quality services," Health Minister Len Taylor said. "This investment will help to ensure that patients' wait times for diagnostic imaging services continue to get shorter."

About two-thirds of the funding will pay for equipment identified by health regions as high priorities, such as new X-ray units and ultrasound machines. The province will use a bulk purchasing approach, and direct any savings towards the next fiscal year's diagnostic imaging equipment purchases.

Taylor said the remainder of the funding will be used to ensure that hospitals are compatible with the new Radiology Information System and Picture Archiving Communications System. The two systems allow the quick exchange of digital images between health care facilities across the province, and are expected to save time, improve diagnostic imaging capacity, and reduce costs and delays to the health system and to patients.

Recent investments in diagnostic imaging services have significantly increased the services being provided. In 2006-07, Saskatchewan provided 12 per cent more MRI exams, 20 per cent more CT scans and 21 per cent more bone mineral density tests. MRI wait times dropped most dramatically, falling 55 per cent in Regina and 14 per cent in Saskatoon between March 2006 and March 2007.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Joan Petrie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083