Released on February 22, 2016
People living in southeastern Saskatchewan now have access to specialized diagnostic imaging services closer to home. A state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) scanner has started operating at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Estevan. Today, Health Minister Dustin Duncan today joined the mayor of Estevan, representatives from Sun Country Health Region, St. Joseph’s Hospital of Estevan, the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, and local residents for the official unveiling of the region’s new CT scanner.“I’m very pleased that patients in this part of the province will be able to receive CT services closer to home,” Duncan said. “Providing this service locally means less travel time and expense for patients, and quicker access to medical diagnosis and treatment. Our government is happy to partner with the community and health region to provide this important service.”
Residents in southeast Saskatchewan often need to travel to Regina or another location for CT services. The addition of a CT scanner in Estevan helps meet the increased demand due to population growth, and improves overall capacity for publicly-funded CT services in the province.
“Our region is pleased to be able to add this diagnostic tool that enables physicians to make a timely diagnosis and determine best treatment and care for their patients,” Sun Country Health Region President and CEO Marga Cugent said. “This was possible thanks to the partnership between the Ministry of Health, Sun Country Health Region, St. Joseph’s Hospital and our community donors.”
“We thank the many generous donors from southeast Saskatchewan for their contributions toward this project,” St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation Director Becky Conly said. “We are so grateful that our donors truly understand the importance of a strong, dynamic healthcare system. The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation is proud and honoured to be such an integral part of bringing the CT scanner to St. Joseph’s Hospital, and we are excited to see this dream come to fruition.”
The St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation raised $2.2 million for the CT scanner project. This includes approximately $1.6 million for the required equipment and renovations, and $600,000 for start-up operating costs. The Government of Saskatchewan has provided $375,000 to Sun Country Health Region for the operation of the CT scanner in the 2015-16 fiscal year, and will provide annual operating costs, estimated at more than $1 million per year.
“This is a truly momentous occasion for the hospital,” St. Joseph’s Hospital of Estevan Executive Director Greg Hoffort said. “This state of the art technology will provide our team of health care providers additional diagnostic capability which will certainly improve the services we provide to southeast Saskatchewan."
Estevan’s CT scanner is the 14th permanent hospital-based CT scanner in Saskatchewan. The other CT scanners are located in Saskatchewan’s six regional hospitals (Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Yorkton) and the five provincial hospitals in Regina and Saskatoon.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tmcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca
Joanne Helmer
Sun Country Health Region
Weyburn
Phone: Phone: 306-842-8353
Email: Joanne.Helmer@schr.sk.ca