The machine is being leased from James Smith Cree Nation and National Medical Imaging by the SHA in an attempt to address rising demand in Regina.
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Work is now underway to get a mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit recently installed at Regina General Hospital (RGH) ready for patient use later this month.
The unit, which arrived at the hospital in mid-June, is expected to increase MRI capacity in the city by about 5,000 scans over the next two years, stated a government news release issued Tuesday. It is being leased from James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) and National Medical Imaging (a JSCN-owned entity), in an attempt to address rising demand, including referrals from southern Saskatchewan, the release noted.
“We are pleased with this significant step towards enhancing healthcare accessibility with the acquisition of this MRI scanner,” JSCN Chief Kirby Constant stated in the release. “By providing the flexibility to deliver top-tier mobile MRI services, this initiative underscores our commitment to improving patient care despite the challenges faced by healthcare systems today.”
That number rose to 279 in January 2024 (compared to a median of 45 days for a gap of 234 days), before dropping down to 253 in March (compared to a median of 40 days for a gap of 213 days).
For Regina specifically, the 90th percentile had their MRI scan in 318 days or fewer (compared to a median of 162 for a gap of 156 days) in January 2024. The number dipped slightly down to 299 (compared to a median of 120.5 for a gap of 178.5 days) in March 2024.
In Tuesday’s release the government says wait times have decreased across the province, but increased in Regina. To try and address the issue, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has entered into a contract with the First Nation to lease the equipment for operation at RGH where the “necessary infrastructure is already in place.”
“Partnerships like this with communities and organizations across Saskatchewan help the SHA maximize the services we provide as close to home as possible for patients,” stated SHA vice-president of provincial clinical and support services Bryan Witt in the release. “This additional resource will provide greater access in a timely manner for patients from Regina and across southern Saskatchewan.”
The mobile unit is expected be operational by the end of July.
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