CT scanner arrives at St. Joseph’s in Elliot Lake

Elliot Lake, Ont. – After waiting more than three years, St. Joseph’s General Hospital’s CT scanner finally arrived on a transport the morning of December 8. It was expected to take more than a week to get the new Canon Aquilion Prime CT scanner set up, after which hospital staff would need to be trained on how to use it.

Originally, the plan was to send the staff to California or Japan for a few weeks of training, however, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in that plan being canceled.

“So, we’re going to have to do everything from here,” said Pierre Ozolins, now-retired CEO of St. Joseph’s General Hospital. William Elliott, chair of the St. Joseph’s Foundation, was also pleased to see the CT scanner finally arrive.

“Now Pierre will be able to retire on a high note,” he said. Ozolins retired as CEO on January 8th, replaced by Jeremy Stevenson who was recently at the helm of the Chapleau General Hospital.

The initial fundraising goal for the CT scanner was $1.6 million. However, in January of 2020, the fundraiser surpassed that goal eventually reaching $1.8 million. That meant they were able to select a top-of-the-line model with many options.

The CT scanner will greatly benefit Elliot Lake residents as well as those living in the region. Physicians in the area will also be referring patients for CT scans to Elliot Lake.

It will also mean savings for the provincial government and ambulance paramedics. On average, the city sends about 2,000 people to Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie for CT scans each year, many of them going by ambulance.

In addition, city and area residents will not have to make the long drives to either of those communities for a CT scan in bad weather. They will only have to travel as far as St. Joseph’s General Hospital. Local officials also suspect that having a CT scanner in Elliot Lake may assist with physician recruitment.