NBRHC MRI scanner keeps patients close to home

NORTH BAY, Ont. – North Bay Regional Health Centre’s diagnostic imaging department has installed an upgraded MRI machine at a cost of $1.7 million. The funds for the project were raised through the community.

“Healthcare is a partnership with our government and our community,” North Bay Regional Health Centre president and CEO Paul Heinrich said. “We are grateful for the support of all of the donors who have contributed to this project.”

Max and Lorraine Shapiro donated $500,000 toward the project. “My family and I know first-hand how important our hospital is to the health of our community,” Max Shapiro said in a media release.

“We are honoured to support this important project that will ensure patients can receive scans, close to home. It is our way of giving back to a community that has been so good to us.”

Steve Touliopoulos, manager of diagnostic imaging at the health centre, said the upgraded MRI, which has been in service for a few weeks, is ready to ramp up its service. The machine was supplied by Canon Medical.

“The first couple of weeks of operation, we were scanning patients and ensuring that it was calibrated and producing the highest quality images,” Touliopoulos said.

Jamie McKay was referred for an MRI by a specialist in Toronto and was pleased to learn she could have it done in North Bay.

“I have had several MRIs and this time I noticed that the scan was quicker and the machine was much quieter than my past scans,” McKay said. “It brings me comfort knowing that we have the technology so that I can manage my healthcare locally.”

Each year, NBRHC provides thousands of patients with MRI scans from as far away as Moose Factory.

The MRI has an extra wide bore and table that can support patients up to 550 pounds.

Dr. Jeff Hodge, chief of radiology, said medical equipment requires upgrades just like personal electronic devices need to be upgraded and replaced over time. “Similarly, each upgrade comes with higher quality characteristics such as speed and image quality.”

Tammy Morison, NBRHC Foundation president and CEO said $850,000 has been raised so far and the NBRHC Foundation will continue to secure community support to offset as much of the capital expense as possible.

“Our community’s generosity funded the purchase of our first MRI ten years ago,” Morison said.

“We are grateful for our leadership donors and the Shapiros for inspiring others through their generous donations. So many large gifts and small gifts come together and have an enormous impact on the healthcare available for our community, close to home.”