Almonte General Hospital receives first CT scanner, changing patient care

As hospital wait times continue to be an issue of high importance across the province, the new, operational CT scanner at Almonte General Hospital will streamline patient care and reduce patient transfers which can create a backlog in other hospitals.

A CT Scan is a rapid, five to 10 minute exam combining X-rays with computer technology to produce 360-degree, cross-sectional views of a patients body. It is a painless exam used to image bone, soft tissue and blood vessels and is used to diagnose everything from fractures and bone breaks, to brain injuries, lung and chest problems and even cancers.

Last week, the scanner was used on its first patient, marking a trend in the reduction of patients transferred to other hospitals for this crucial imaging. Prior to installation, patients requiring a CT scan were sent to Smiths Falls or Queensway Carleton Hospital. According to the Government of Ontario’s hospital wait time tracker, the average wait time for a CT scan at Queensway Carleton Hospital for all priority patients was 57 days in August.

“This is a transformative moment for our hospital and the entire region,” Brad Harrington, president and CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance, said in a press release. “Having the CT scanner here ensures faster, more accurate diagnoses and enables us to deliver high-quality, timely care close to home.”

The $3 million project was funded completely through donations. The Almonte General Hospital/Fairview Manor Foundation received over 10,500 gifts from approximately 2,226 donors. In addition to financial contributions, approximately 100 people volunteered as board members or at events and activities helping to raise funds. The board is giving special thanks to residents Art and Helen Levi who have to date given over $1 million to the hospital and manor. The diagnostic imaging department will now be called the Helen and Art Levi Diagnostic Imaging Department.

“Having access to a modern, CT Scanner within our community’s hospital would not have been made possible without the exceptional support of the community, led by Art and Helen Levi,” Foundation Board Chair Seth Richards said in a press release. “On behalf of the Foundation, we want to thank everyone who contributed, and worked tirelessly to see this milestone achieved.”