Temporary home for MRI scanner to be built
The territorial government will provide $2.8 million to the Yukon Hospital Corp. to build a temporary home for Whitehorse General Hospital's new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
The territorial government will provide $2.8 million to the Yukon Hospital Corp. to build a temporary home for Whitehorse General Hospital's new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
The announcement was made today by Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham.
The construction of a permanent MRI suite is linked to the emergency department's expansion. Graham said he was concerned that MRI service would not be available for four to five years if it waited for a permanent home.
"By funding the construction of a temporary MRI suite, which can later be converted for another use by the hospital, we are ensuring that Yukoners have local access to this important diagnostic test much sooner,” Graham said. That could be as soon as November if things go well.
The Yukon Hospital Foundation raised $2 million to purchase the MRI scanner, and in December 2012, the government announced it would match those funds.
This further $2.8 million covers the costs to build the specialized MRI suite. The government has also approved $265,000 to cover operation and maintenance costs for the MRI service for its first months of operation in 2014/15.
The new building will be located next to the hospital building, with construction to start this season.
The MRI scanner will be relocated to a permanent space inside the hospital when the emergency department expansion is completed.
The money announced today will be in the 2014-15 fiscal year budget, which has yet to be tabled. MLAs will return to the legislature March 25.
Comments (6)
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Max Mack on Mar 20, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Most conditions can be adequately diagnosed with conventional imaging techniques. The need for a local MRI is debatable on this point.
My bet is that the MRI will increase health care costs significantly. Along with the new "hospitals" in Watson Lake and Dawson City, watch for future government moves to tamp down healthcare costs or re-introduce premiums.
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bobby bitman on Mar 20, 2014 at 8:35 am
Max, people should have access to an MRI and my belief is that doctors denied people this legitimate diagnostic tool on too many occasions due to the extra costs and paper work in booking flights, travel and MRI appointments in Alberta and BC. MRI's are used routinely and legitimately throughout the world. Yukoners used to have to pull teeth to get a requisition for one. Hopefully now people will gain reasonable access. If that 'costs the system', tough luck. Early diagnosis of spinal problems, or other issues is very important and one could argue saves money in the long run.
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Max Mack on Mar 19, 2014 at 10:13 am
Expenses arising from acquisition of the MRI scanner and the associated hospital renovations will result in increased costs to the health care system; think depreciation and other increases in admin expenses.
Whether the relative benefits of a locally-available MRI outweigh costs for the Yukon as a whole is debatable. On one hand, Yukoners may not have to travel outside to have some MRIs done.
On the other hand, I suspect there will be a dramatic increase in MRI-usage. The result may very well be a significant increase in health care costs.
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Robert on Mar 18, 2014 at 5:03 am
rather then spend $2.8 million on a temporary home why not locate the MRI in the old ambulance station. The station still has an ambulance based there as well as some staff but there is more than ample room for the MRI.
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Geoffrey Capp on Mar 17, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Did Whitehorse ever get a kidney dialysis machine? Surely that could be afforded if an MRI scanner can be.
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Frank Smith on Mar 17, 2014 at 10:44 am
It makes the most sense to house the MRI in Dawson City.