MRI unit coming in fall

Central Health's first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit is set to be operational at the James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre by the fall, according to the health authority's director of diagnostic imaging.

"We still have some contractual work to finalize for the construction and installation, but right now things are on target for the middle of October," said Wayne St. Onge.

The tender for the MRI unit went out last summer, shortly after the initial announcement of the MRI unit coming to Gander. Prior to that, community representatives of Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor had been lobbying government to choose their respective community as the site to install the $3 million piece of equipment.

Last month's provincial budget included $366,000 to operate the MRI service.

Next for the health authority, said Mr. St. Onge, will be renovations inside the Gander hospital to accommodate the unit's arrival. He said the unit will require a significant amount of space, as the scanner requires its own room along with space for technologists using the device. A patient preparation area and wait area will also be required.

The suite of rooms will be located in the cafeteria seating area, which will be relocated. This will allow the MRI unit to be housed next to other diagnostic imaging services, said Mr. St. Onge.

The unit will require the skills of two technologists, and one of those has already been hired by Central Health and is now working out of the James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre.

"We have one hired currently who's in the process of doing policy and procedures well in advance of the service," he said, adding the health authority is optimistic they will fill the other position by October.

Technologists using MRI units have specialized post graduate training. This includes six to 12 months of training on the practical and theoretical side of MRI operations, plus four weeks on the specific MRI unit they will use.

MRIs are most commonly used in radiology to obtain a clearer view of the internal structure and function of body parts. They can assist in detecting cancers and neurological disorders, amongst other issues.

There are three MRI units already operating in the province, with one in Corner Brook and two in St. John's - a third one is scheduled to be added for the capital city. Mr. St. Onge said the unit in Gander will address wait time issues, and provide patients from the central region with more convenient access to MRIs.

Last June, Central Health CEO Karen McGrath said it could take 12-18 months for an MRI unit to become operational at the Gander hospital. Mr. St. Onge said such a timeline is reasonable, given the past experiences of other provinces waiting for a unit.One technologist hired