Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) is getting started on installation of its new CT scanner.
CMH’s existing CT machine – now 13 years old – is at the end of its lifecycle, said the hospital. The new scanner will be more reliable and provide clearer imaging, enabling physicians to make more efficient diagnoses, explained hospital officials. However, work will mean a temporary pause in scans at CMH for a time.
“It really was a game-changer when we installed the current CT scanner 13 years ago,” recalled Colleen Smith, a diagnostic imaging manager, who’s been at CMH for more than 20 years now.
“You typically don’t see this type of equipment in smaller hospitals, and it allows us to provide a level of care to our patients often not seen in communities of our size.”
The replacement was made possible through incredible fundraising efforts of the hospital foundation team, which committed to raising the entire $1.4 million needed for the replacement, said CMH.
“It never ceases to amaze me how much support our community shows the hospital,” said Martha Hunt, CMH Foundation chair. “2023 was a record-breaking year for community support of the hospital.
“We have raised just over 90 per cent of our fundraising goal, but with a last push (we) are confident we will hit our target.”
When asked about what that support means for the proposed hospital redevelopment, Hunt noted redevelopment will translate to the largest capital campaign the area has ever seen.
“It is going to be all hands on deck and the overwhelming success of our CT scanner replacement campaign gives me every confidence that we’ll be able to deliver.”
Work on replacing the scanner was expected to start Wednesday, Feb. 14. It’s anticipated work will wrap by early April.
As a result, during this time, CT scans will not be available at CMH, the hospital noted.
According to the hospital, an “extended CT scan downtime procedure” has been put in place, and arrangements with Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Northumberland Hills Hospital made to ensure urgent scans can be accommodated at one of these hospitals.
Once installed and up and running, the new scanner will help CMH doctors with the ability to diagnose and treat conditions without having to send patients to a larger hospital, explained CMH.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
