Fast scans give 3-D picture of what’s going on inside the body

Story by Kerri Robins; Photo by Christine Sheasgreen

Computed tomography scanner, CT scanner, or ‘cat’ scanner ... nothing to do with scanning cats, obviously, this marvellous machine is indispensible to doctors in making quick patient diagnoses.

“There’s a lot of uses for CT scanners,” says Heather Ward, Site Director, Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital. “Doctors can scan for head injuries, cancers and make dementia assessments with the results available fairly quickly.”

So while the Fort Saskatchewan Health Centre was being replaced by the new Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital, the Community Hospital Foundation began fundraising for a CT scanner.

“I’m astounded at the regional support we received,” says Margaret Wade, Past Chair of the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital Foundation. “We raised $2.2 million between 2010 and 2012.

“We had generous donations from Shell Canada, Keyera and Sherritt International, but the rest came from the tireless work and commitment of the people in our neighbourhood.”

All of the funds raised went toward purchase of the CT scanner, which produces cross-sectional patterned images that create 3-D views of the body to give doctors a good picture of what’s going on inside. This vastly increases the doctor’s ability to screen for and more accurately diagnose medical conditions.

“I’ve had a number of CT scans over the years,” says Katherine Payne, who suffered injuries from a car accident many years ago.

“Not only are they quick and non-invasive, but they relieve some stress because you know the doctor can find out right away what the problem is.”

The CT scanner made its debut at the opening of the new hospital in the spring of 2012 and it’s proving its worth.

A scan only takes 10 minutes and doesn’t hurt. But that’s not the best thing: patients don’t have to wait long for their scan, and receive results in less than a couple of hours.

“The scanner is a great tool in emergency situations,” says Ward. “Doctors can diagnose severe stomach pains or head injuries quickly and accurately and, if the patient must be transported, the scan can assist in stabilizing patients before they leave.”

For information on the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital Foundation, please visit www.fschf.ca.