Niagara Health to deploy top-flight CT scanners

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Niagara Health is undertaking a transformative upgrade to its CT scanner fleet, bringing the most advanced diagnostic imaging equipment currently available in Canada to its hospital sites. Four state-of-the-art CT machines – Canon’s Aquilion ONE INSIGHT scanners – will be installed.

Two of the scanners will arrive at the Marotta Family Hospital, while the Niagara Falls and Welland hospitals will receive one each.

As the first hospital in Canada to receive this next-generation CT technology, Niagara Health is enhancing access to faster, safer and more accurate diagnostic imaging. Patients will benefit from the new scanners’ significantly improved image quality, reduced scan noise, lower radiation doses and quicker scan times, all contributing to more timely diagnoses and an improved care experience.

Transformative investments like this are only possible with the support of the community, the hospital said.

“Modernizing our CT fleet is an essential part of our plan to provide faster, more accurate diagnostic care to patients across the region,” said Lynn Guerriero (pictured), president and CEO, Niagara Health. “We are incredibly grateful to the Niagara Health Foundation and the community for making this possible.”

Installation will begin at the Marotta Family Hospital with the replacement of one CT scanner, followed by the Niagara Falls Hospital, a second scanner at the Marotta Family Hospital, and then the Welland Hospital. Work is scheduled to begin this month and will continue consecutively in phases.

“During the replacement period, patients may experience extended appointment timelines as we operate with reduced CT capacity at certain sites,” said Simon Akinsulie, executive vice president, practice, clinical support and chief nursing executive. “Niagara Health is taking active steps to manage this by optimizing schedules, coordinating across locations, and working closely with partners to ensure continuity of care.”

“In 2019, a CT scan at the Marotta Family Hospital helped detect and remove my colon cancer – and five years later, I’m still cancer-free,” said Bob Asham, who has been a patient partner with the Niagara Health Engagement Network since 2019. “Bringing this new advanced technology to Niagara means faster diagnoses and ultimately better care for our community.”

While the upgrades are underway, Niagara Health will continue to prioritize patient access through a number of strategies including:

Mobile CT trailer: Currently stationed at the Niagara Falls Hospital to support continuity of care. The trailer will be relocated to the Welland Hospital ahead of the CT replacement at the site.
Working closely with regional partners: Including Haldimand War Memorial Hospital in Dunnville, to help manage outpatient scan volumes.
Leveraging community diagnostic imaging providers and alternative Niagara Health sites where appropriate.

Through this transition, patients most in need of diagnostic imaging services will be prioritized. A radiologist will assign a priority level from 1 to 4 based on:

• Patients medical history
• Current symptoms
• Clinical best practices
• The radiologist’s knowledge and experience

Niagara Health encourages individuals to speak with their primary care provider about ways to potentially reduce their wait time, including:

• Traveling outside of the region to a hospital or imaging centre with shorter wait times
• Being flexible with appointment times, including evenings, nights or weekends

“Upgrading this technology is about more than replacing machines – it’s about building a stronger, more responsive hospital system for everyone in Niagara,” said Dr. Ali Jahed, radiologist at Niagara Health.