Renfrew Victoria Hospital is patting itself on the back for a massive improvement happening in one of their most important departments.
The hospital says wait times for CT scans have dropped from over 400 days to just 2 weeks over the past few months, thanks in part to the addition of three new afternoon shifts on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, as well as scheduling an extra technologist to help with added case loads on Fridays.
CT scans provide detailed views of many types of body tissue, including the lungs, bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels. They are also used in the treatment of emergency cases and are an important tool for the diagnosis of major diseases like cancer, stroke, pelvic-abdominal disorders, and osteoporosis.
Dr. Angela Varrin explains that extended delays to imaging procedures that have been deemed medically necessary, such as CT scans, “are known to delay prognosis and affect patient outcomes.” She adds that “the staff of the Diagnostic Imaging department continue to go above and beyond, in this case working extra hours tirelessly to achieve a dramatically shorter wait time for our community. This has continued to allow patients advanced care close to home and in a much timelier fashion.
This reduction of wait time means that RVH now has one of the lowest wait times in the province.
“Of the 105 hospitals in Ontario that publish wait times for CT, RVH is now in the top six. This aligns with our ongoing goal to provide the best possible care and services close to home,” notes Mary-Ellen Harris, RVH VP of Patient Care Services.
Patients from anywhere in the region who need a CT scan can ask their physician to refer them to RVH to have it completed.
(written by Kasey Egan)