Residents across the Sea-to-Sky corridor now have improved access to advanced medical imaging with the installation of a new CT (computed tomography) scanner at Squamish General Hospital.
The scanner is now ready to serve patients from Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton and surrounding communities, providing faster access to diagnostic imaging closer to home.
Health officials say the new scanner will improve patient care by providing timely diagnostic information that supports earlier diagnosis and treatment. It is expected to enhance health-care delivery while reducing the need for patients to travel to other communities for CT scans.
The CT scanner will also ease pressure on the hospital’s existing X-ray and ultrasound services and reduce the number of patients who previously had to be referred to other acute-care facilities for CT imaging.
CT scans play a key role in diagnosing a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, traumatic injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
The new scanner is expected to perform approximately 7,000 CT scans annually, averaging about 20 scans each day.
The project was funded through a partnership involving the Province of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health, the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District and community donations raised by the Squamish Hospital Foundation.
In addition to the new scanner, the project included a minor expansion of Squamish General Hospital, with the addition of a prefabricated modular unit housing the CT scanner, a second imaging waiting room, and additional clinical space for imaging staff.
