SURREY, BC – Fraser Health’s new regional Surrey Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre is adding one of the most advanced diagnostic tools to its imaging inventory today.
The new Optima MR450w system from GE Healthcare arrived early this morning — the first in Canada. Not only is the technology leading edge, the opening is 15% wider than average so virtually all patients, especially larger patients or patients who do not like the feeling of being closed in, can feel more at ease during a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scan.
The $2 million wide bore MRI magnet was cautiously craned up the side of the Surrey Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre. A purpose-built detachable wall panel was removed for the installation of this large equipment. Installation and testing will continue through September as the facility prepares to open in June of next year.
“This new, advanced MRI technology for Fraser Valley residents is great news,” said Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer. “The addition of the Optima MR450w system complements and extends the range of quality diagnostic services the Surrey Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre will offer.”
Traditional MRIs pose special challenges for larger or obese patients, and those with concerns about being in small or confined spaces. With a wider high-quality MRI those who don’t fit in traditional scanners can be more easily imaged and diagnosed. Currently, the only other similar system within the Lower Mainland is at Richmond General Hospital.
“It’s important to note this more advanced technology is an improvement over the original plan,” said Surrey-Panorama MLA Stephanie Cadieux. “This is brand new technology. The upgrade was made possible at no additional cost by GE and the P3 partner, BC Healthcare Solutions.”
Marc Pelletier, Fraser Health Vice-President of Clinical Operations added, “Patients may have a quicker scanning experience with this new MRI. With the larger field of view we are able to scan more anatomy with fewer scans compared to previous systems. We may even be able to see more patients in a given shift as a result of shorter scanning sessions.”
MR scans combine the power of magnetic and radio frequency fields, allowing physicians to view the tissue structure of internal anatomy without exploratory surgery. These scans are used when people are ill or injured, or when a doctor suspects a medical problem that is not easily detectable from a conventional physical examination. The GE Optima MR450w system can be used to non-invasively scan head, neck, TMJ, spine, breast, heart, abdomen, pelvis, joints, prostate, blood vessels and musculoskeletal regions of the body.
The Surrey Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre is a public-private partnership between Fraser Health and BC Healthcare Solutions (BCHS). BCHS is responsible for the design, building, financing and maintenance of the facility. Fraser Health will retain ownership of the facility and provide all health and medical services.
Fraser Health’s Surrey Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre was developed to deliver the right care in the best place for the patient. As a regional facility, residents of the entire Lower Mainland can access and benefit from its services. The $239.1 million facility is unique in offering day surgery, diagnostic procedures such as lab, X-ray, biopsies and specialized health programs all within one building. Outpatients are individuals who receive medical care or treatment, including surgery, but do not require an overnight stay in a hospital.
Funding for capital projects provided by the Province is in addition to the more than $2 billion provided to Fraser Health by the BC government each year to meet the health care needs in the region’s rapidly-growing communities. A new emergency department and critical care tower for Surrey Memorial Hospital is in the procurement phase. The emergency department component is expected to open in 2013.
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For more information about the Optima MR450w, visit the GE website.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Fraser Health Media Pager | 604-450-7881
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