The University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) in Prince George has welcomed the arrival of a mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit to support diagnostic imaging needs during its multi-million dollar MRI replacement project.
“We know that northern and rural residents want to be cared for as close to home as possible, and this project will add capacity closer to home for residents in Prince George, Terrace and Fort St. John area residents,” said Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond. “We appreciate the extra effort UHNBC staff and Northern Health have put into ensuring there are additional options for patients across the north.”
The replacement of the UHNBC MRI is the first part of an overall strategy to help improve access to medical imaging technology in northern BC, which will also see new MRI units in Terrace and Fort St. John. The medical imaging strategy is a key partnership between the Province of BC and Northern Health.
“Not only is the new UHNBC MRI a great addition, but so are the additional MRI units throughout the north,” said Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris. “They will help to reduce MRI wait times, and improve medical imaging services across the region.”
The mobile MRI provided by Siemens Healthcare is a fully-functional magnetic resonance imaging machine contained in a mobile transport unit. It is located on the UHNBC campus near the Nechako Centre on Alward Street, and will be in use for approximately three to four months while a new MRI suite is constructed at UHNBC. The existing UHNBC MRI has been in operation for the past fourteen years.
Prince George was served by a mobile MRI shared with Interior Health prior to receiving a permanent machine in 2003. The existing MRI unit at UHNBC was state-of-the-art at the time; advancements in technology since that time mean the new MRI will provide significantly-enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
“It is wonderful to see the start of this project that will benefit patients across the North,” said Nechako-Lakes MLA John Rustad. “Residents throughout the region will be well-served by better access to this state-of-the-art technology.”
Funding for the $2,860,000 UHNBC MRI replacement is from:
- Ministry of Health (Province of BC) - $1,716,000
- Fraser Fort George Regional Hospital District - $1,144,000
“The Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District is proud to contribute 40% of the funding towards this important purchase. It’s another example of our commitment to work with Northern Health to improve health services for residents throughout our region,” said Murry Krause, Chair of the Fraser-Fort George RHD.
An MRI is a valuable test for medical professionals that use a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. Muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and other joint structures are often best seen with an MRI. In many cases MRI gives information about structures in the body that cannot be seen as well with an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan.
Northern Health’s 10-year medical imaging plan to help improve access to medical imaging technology in northern BC also includes the implementation of the Provincial Breast Health Strategy, which has recently seen state-of-the-art digital mammography units installed at hospitals in Quesnel, Dawson Creek, Terrace and Prince Rupert.
Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond and Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris tour the Mobile MRI Unit at University Hospital of Northern BC.