New MRI coming to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

Aging equipment to be replaced with state-of-the-art diagnostic tool

RED DEER — A state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit is coming to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) to ensure local residents can access consistent, high-quality diagnostic imaging services for years to come.

The MRI replaces a 16-year-old unit that’s near the end of its service life. Once renovations needed for installation are complete, the new 4,800-kg machine should be fully operational this fall.

“MRI technology has advanced significantly since the first MRI scanner was installed in 2001,” says Sandy Duckett, Diagnostic Imaging manager with the Central Zone for Alberta Health Services (AHS).

“Because of the changes in technology, the new MRI scanner will have more functionality with newer software. It’s also larger than the existing machine, which will allow for enhanced patient comfort during procedures.”

More than 8,000 MRI scans are performed annually at RDRHC.

Construction to remove the aging machine and renovate the MRI space will begin later this month and will continue for about 13 weeks. During this time, a mobile MRI unit will be set up onsite to ensure ongoing access to scheduled and emergency MRI services.

The mobile MRI will be located inside a tractor-trailer unit parked outside the hospital’s main entrance, adjacent to the Ambulatory Annex. Once the mobile unit is installed and fully operational, the process to remove the current MRI will begin.

“The mobile MRI unit will ensure our patients and staff have access to this important diagnostic tool as we work to keep our technology up-to-date,” says Allan Sinclair, Executive Director, Red Deer, with AHS Central Zone. “Having this new equipment is a great benefit to patient care and MRI services offered to our community.”

The project, including the cost of renovations and the new MRI, is about $1.4 million.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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