New scanner officially inaugurated
The Lachine Hospital of the MUHC has acquired a leading-edge CT scanner. The official inauguration took place today from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Present at the ceremony were Mr. Francis Ouimet, MNA for Maquette, Mr. Claude Dauphin, Mayor of Lachine, Mr. Edgar Rouleau, Mayor of Dorval, and Dr. Arthur T. Porter, Director General and CEO of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).
“The acquisition of this new scanner, valued at $1.5 million, underlines the determination of the MUHC to create a new centre of advanced diagnostic imaging at Lachine. Residents of Lachine will be the first to benefit in terms of quality of care and the hospital’s ability to treat a greater number of people,” stated Mr. Ouimet.
“This is also a great start towards meeting the goals set out in the agreement with the Government of Quebec, which established a $55 million envelope to carry out the master building plan and to ensure that the Lachine Hospital’s departments and facilities meet the standards of the MUHC Redevelopment Plan. This new scanner is without doubt a valuable resource for the public that will enhance diagnostic services for patients,” concluded Mr. Ouimet.
This device provides unprecedented image quality and resolution and the lowest possible radiation dose for patients while considerably improving the speed and reliability of diagnosis. Emergency diagnoses will also be easier, particularly for patients with increased heart rates or higher body masses (up to 300 kg). Even the finest anatomical structures can be viewed in precise and clear detail without any motion artefacts. The scanner also opens new horizons in clinical research by providing a method to differentiate tissues, such as body fluids, or to directly subtract vessel or bone structures from scans.
“In May, I had the pleasure of announcing that a high-precision CT scanner would soon be installed at the Lachine Hospital as one of the first steps in creating the MUHC Advanced Medical Imaging Centre at our Lachine Campus,” noted Dr. Arthur T. Porter. “This scanner, as well as future equipment and facility upgrades, will ensure that our patients receive the best possible care in a modern medical environment.”
Work was first carried out to prepare for the installation of the 2300-kg machine and its cooling system. A heat exchanger was then installed on the roof of the entrance to the Emergency Department. The previous scanner, which was heading into its eighth year of use, was sold to a New York dealer and should make its way to Africa, where it will continue to provide valuable services.
Jocelyne Faille, Executive Director of the Lachine Hospital, is extremely pleased with this recent acquisition, as it puts the Lachine site at the forefront of medical imaging. “This major technological advance represents great strides in care for our patients, who will benefit from this fast, cutting-edge and high-performance tool. Upgrading our facilities is one of our primary concerns and a core component of the developments and improvements made since we became affiliated with the MUHC.”
About the Lachine Hospital: Founded in 1913 by the priest Joseph Télesphore Savaria, this community hospital provides first- and second-line health services to the residents of Lachine-Dorval (about 58,000 people). The hospital also provides services in inpatient and ambulatory care. Its Ophthalmology Department is a centre of excellence for cataract surgery and contributes to the regional program for access to cataract surgeries to decrease waiting times. Affiliated with the McGill University Health Centre since April 2008, the Lachine Hospital now belongs to one of the most comprehensive university hospital centres in North America.
About the MUHC: The MUHC represents six teaching hospitals affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University: the Montreal Children's Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal Neurological Hospital, the Montreal Chest Institute and the Lachine Hospital. Building on the tradition of medical leadership of its founding hospitals, the MUHC continues to shape the course of academic medicine by attracting clinical and research authorities from around the world and by training the next generation of medical professionals. And it continues to provide the “Best Care for Life” to patients of all ages.