Friday, September 14, 2007
Alexandra Marine and General Hospital
Mission accomplished: Care at Goderich hospital takes leap forward
Goderich, ON – After years of innovative
effort, a project that seemed like an impossible
mission five years ago reached its culmination at
Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (AMGH)
in Goderich today as they celebrated their
connection to one of the world’s largest, most
sophisticated medical digital imaging networks.
The project was conceived to ensure every
hospital in Southwestern Ontario—from the very
large to the very small—has access to the finest
medical imaging equipment and radiologist and
nuclear medicine coverage. AMGH joins 13 other
hospital organizations in Southwestern Ontario - a
total of 18 separate hospital sites - linked to this
network, that enables the sharing of diagnostic
images between primary, secondary and tertiary
care hospitals.
“This project is about leveraging technology to
provide the best possible patient care right here in
our home community,” said Bill Thibert, AMGH
President/CEO. “The success of the project is
largely due to the spirit of cooperation between all
the hospitals engaged in this initiative.”
Funding for this project is from AMGH and its
community, in partnership with Canada Health
Infoway. "Today`s celebration is about providing
clinicians with an innovative Diagnostic Imaging
system that provides the tools and information
they need to provide the care their patients
deserve," said Stella Skerlec, Group Program
Director, Registries, Infostructure and Diagnostic
Imaging, Canada Health Infoway.
“The PACS system is state of the art technology for
our community,” said Dr. Julie Moore, AMGH
Chief of Staff. “It produces digital images that are
far superior to traditional film technology, and can
be shared with consultants and specialists
immediately. This allows us to provide efficient,
seamless and timely service to our
patients.”
Digital images are filmless – much like a digital
camera. Digital imaging systems enable
healthcare providers to view, manage, distribute
and electronically store a patient’s exam images
from x-ray, CT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine,
MRIs, and PET scans as well as medical files from
any location connected through the system -
regardless of where the test was conducted. The
PACS (picture archiving and communication
system) captures, stores and sends images using
digital technology.
This project is serving as a model for other health
information network projects across Canada.
Planning is underway to continue expanding this
network to other Southwestern Ontario
hospitals.
For more information, please contact:
Bill Thibert
Alexandra Marine and General Hospital
519-524-8689, ext. 232
Anne Kay,
St. Joseph’s Health Care London
519-685-4292, ext. 42470 or Page 519-649-9238
Dan Strasbourg
Canada Health Infoway
416-595-3424
dstrasbourg@infoway-inforoute.ca
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