It’s been a monumental year for Northumberland Hills Hospital so far after the completion of several major capital projects.
Just recently, the hospital and Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation announced the completion of renovations to the nuclear imaging area of NHH’s diagnostic imaging department and introduction of new $2-millon-plus SPECT-CT equipment – as well as installation of a new MRI.
The new SPECT-CT – which stands for single photo emission computed tomography – means enhanced care and access to advanced diagnostic procedures for tens-of-thousands of residents and local providers close to home, said NHH CEO and President Susan Walsh.
“I would say that this is one of the many exciting additions that we’ve been working on for some time,” said Walsh, adding it’s taken an immense amount of community support, planning and cross-collaboration to pull off these massive projects.
The latest tech is replacing equipment that had been in place in hospital since it originally opened in 2003.
If you’re wondering what this new tech is, Walsh has you covered.
Walsh added the team is “thrilled” to be able to offer this new service to its 67,000 resident catchment area.
And the addition and renewal of diagnostic imaging equipment wouldn’t have been possible without Northumberland’s backing and generosity, stressed Walsh.
This addition was a big priority previously identified in the hospital’s long-term capital equipment strategy and the foundation’s “Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care” campaign.
“We are so grateful to all those who came together to make this 100 per cent donor?funded project possible,” added Rhonda Cunningham, CEO of the NHH Foundation. “Thank you to everyone who supported the campaign and helped us strengthen healthcare close to home.”
In terms of what else residents should know about the new non-invasive hybrid technology, it helps to pinpoint exact locations of diseases by injecting a tracer, which maps 3D metabolic activity (like blood flow) while the CT provides the detailed images, explained NHH.
The result is a comprehensive image “improving diagnostic accuracy and localization of abnormalities and enhancing the quality of clinical reporting to support patient care.”
Dr. Pavel (Paul) Ketov, who serves as NHH’s chief of staff, has described the improvements as exciting, noting this enhanced testing capacity will support growth at the hospital and ensure NHH is well-positioned to continue delivering quality care to patients well into the future.
While congratulating the NHH team for excelling while juggling several competing priorities, Walsh noted this project was completed on time and on budget.
Training on the new equipment is now also complete, and the team is accepting patients.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
