SLMHC Update
CT Scanner Program and Mammography Unit at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre to be Operational Soon
September 9th, 2011
Mrs. Barb Linkewich, Vice President of Health Services at SLMHC announced this morning, "We are very pleased to inform the public the CT Scanner Program and Mammography Unit will be operational soon. The CT Scanner Program will be operational by late fall. The mammography unit will open during the early winter, depending on meeting Ontario Breast Screening Program criteria. We are also pleased to announce that Dr. Neety Panu will be the team lead for all our radiology services"
"Mammography is a type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women. SLMHC has a vision for a Women’s Health Centre with the mammography unit as the central component of service. Our goal is to provide year round mammography services both screening and diagnostic five days per week at the new facility. Having the necessary equipment for both screening and assessment will result in timely diagnosis, treatment and improved prognosis for our clients," added Mrs. Linkewich.
Mrs. Marnie Hoey, President of the Foundation said, "To date we have raised $335,000 towards the projected cost of $550,000 for the Mammography Unit. This is in large part due to the generosity of the Friesen Family matching $100,000 in community donations, and a very generous gift of $100,000 from the Canadian Cancer Society for the purchase of the Digital Mammography Unit at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre. We are so very thankful and cannot express enough gratitude to all our donors for their ongoing support and the wonderful spirit of giving and energy they’ve put toward this very important program. We know that many people will benefit from having this wonderful piece of equipment right here, close to home."
Mrs. Linkewich added, "The CT Scanner will be open by late fall. CT is short for computed tomography, a special form of x-ray imaging that generates detailed, often 3-dimensional pictures of parts of the body. This technology has become a standard form of diagnostic imaging used extensively in determining the nature or cause of many types of illness or injury, many of which cannot be determined unless CT is used. A CT Scanner at Meno Ya Win will be used to enhance emergency services, assist in the early detection and treatment of various patient pathologies, and enhance the Centre’s active surgical program."
On the fundraising effort, Mrs. Hoey noted that, "To date $1.79 million in cash and pledges has been raised for the purchase of the CT Scanner, associated costs, and completion of the CT room at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre. Of this, $232,857 was raised by Riley Barkman & Friends "Helping to Make a Vision a Reality" Walkathon from Sachigo Lake First Nation to Sioux Lookout."
"SLMHC has chosen G.E. as the vendor for the CT Scanner Project. The Board approved this vendor selection at their May 31st meeting, and recently signed the contract for the installation. Health Care Solutions will be doing the install. Construction started on August 28th and should be completed in mid October. Once installation is complete training and certification will need to take place before the CT Scanner is operational", added Mrs. Linkewich.
A new radiology services team is currently being set up to provide CT, mammography and other radiology services for SLMHC. The team will be lead by Dr. Neety Panu, a radiologist, who currently is the Medical Imaging Lead for the Linda Buchan Centre and is also the Cancer Care Ontario Imaging Lead for the Northwest region. She is a Clinician-Scientist with the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute and is a Principal Investigator with the HIFU clinical trials. Dr. Panu is a Lecturer at the Northern Ontaio School of Medicine.
A Medical Staff meet and greet dinner and education meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at the SLMHC.
For more information contact:
Mrs. Barb Linkewich, Vice President of Health Services
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre
1 Meno Ya Win Way
Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B4
Telephone 807-737-6539
Email: