Mobile CT scanner to fill gap at Saskatoon City Hospital during replacement

Patients at Saskatoon City Hospital will not lose access to important medical imaging services while the hospital’s CT scanner is replaced.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said a mobile CT scanner will be installed in the hospital’s visitor parking lot on Tuesday, where it’s expected to be up and running by mid-August. According to the health authority, the mobile scanner means there won’t be any planned interruptions to CT imaging services at the hospital while the facility’s existing scanner is removed and replaced.

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The mobile unit is expected to remain at the hospital for about five months, and will be removed after the new scanner is up and running.

The new machine – a Siemens SOMATOM Force CT scanner – will offer faster scans and better imaging capability, the health authority noted, while helping patients in the Saskatoon area access care quickly.

“Maintaining uninterrupted access to diagnostic imaging services for patients is our priority throughout this project,” Kevin Hare, the health authority’s vice president of provincial clinical and support services, said in a statement.

“The temporary mobile CT unit will allow us to provide essential CT services while we install advanced imaging technology that will support timely diagnosis and treatment for years to come.”

The replacement project is being funded by $2.9 million from the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation and its donors.

“This is the first step in a significant investment in diagnostic imaging for our community,” Steve Shannon, the foundation’s CEO, said in a statement.

“We are deeply grateful to the Dubé family for their transformational $1 million gift, and to every donor who helped us reach our goal in just 10 months. Together, their generosity is making this important investment in patient care possible.”

The health authority also thanked the donors who made the replacement possible.

“Their support is making this important equipment replacement project possible and helping ensure patients continue to have access to advanced diagnostic imaging services close to home,” the organization said.