Installation begins on upgraded MRI machine

FORT McMURRAY – Installation begins this week on a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

The upgraded machine is expected to be operational by Nov. 5. It replaces an MRI scanner installed 11 years ago. The upgraded MRI machine will increase the speed of scanning, allow for enhanced patient comfort during procedures, and improve the quality of images.

Over the next month during removal and replacement of the pre-existing scanner, MRI exams will not be available at the local Alberta Health Services hospital. Patients initially scheduled for an MRI during this period were contacted and rescheduled by the diagnostic imaging department in advance. Patients referred to the hospital for an MRI during the replacement period will be contacted by their physician to discuss alternative imaging options.

No other facility operations will be impacted during this time.

MRI scans enable healthcare providers and researchers to examine the inside of the human body in high detail. It has many uses, including to look for injuries or anomalies of the joints, diseases of the liver and other abdominal organs, anomalies of the brain and spinal cord, and tumours and cysts in various parts of the body.

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.