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Cancer

Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre Upgrades MRI Department with $4.95 Million Modernization Project

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As part of a major modernization project, the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre is undergoing a $4.95 million upgrade to its MRI department, featuring advanced technology to produce clearer images and detect various health conditions. The new refurbished MRI is expected to be operational next year and will significantly enhance the quality of care for patients in the Fraser Valley region. With the construction of the new MRI, a mobile unit will remain on site to ensure uninterrupted access to MRI services during the project.

Key Takeaways:

  • The $4.95 million upgrade to the MRI department at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre will feature advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, new coils, and advanced software, to produce clearer images.
  • The new refurbished MRI will be operational next year and will help detect abnormalities, tumours, and soft-tissue injuries, as well as cardiac and neurological diseases.
  • The current MRI scanner will be stripped down to its magnet and undergo a complete refurbishment, keeping the existing magnet in place while surrounding it with the latest components.
  • The new refurbished MRI, a Signa Artist 1.5 EVO MR30, will combine artificial intelligence (AI), new coils, and advanced software to produce detailed and clearer images.
  • The upgraded MRI will perform some exams up to 50% faster than the current unit and is quieter, reducing anxiety in claustrophobic patients or those with cognitive impairments.
  • The Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation partnered with The Crystal Gala Foundation, raising $1 million for the MRI upgrade.
  • Advanced MRI can help detect abnormalities of the brain and spine, as well as tumours, cysts, and soft-tissue injuries in other parts of the body, and is used to detect cancers in various parts of the body, including the breast, brain, abdomen, prostate, and lymph nodes.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 8,000 MRI scans were conducted at Abbotsford Regional Hospital last year.
  • The new refurbished MRI is expected to be operational next year.
  • The MRI upgrade is a $4.95 million project, featuring advanced technology to produce clearer images.
  • The project includes a mobile MRI unit to ensure uninterrupted access to MRI services during construction.
  • The existing MRI scanner will be refurbished, keeping the existing magnet in place while surrounding it with the latest components.

Sources:

  • Fraser Health
  • Britanny Gallinger, "Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre Upgrading MRI Department," Oct. 24, contify.com.

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