Source: CBC

Health P.E.I. is addressing the province’s record-high MRI wait times by funding travel for semi-urgent patients to a private clinic in New Brunswick. With a goal of performing 2,600 scans in the first year, the initiative aims to reduce wait times, which currently extend up to two years. Health P.E.I. CEO Melanie Fraser expressed optimism that this strategy will restore normal wait times within a year.

To further alleviate the backlog, the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in Charlottetown has offered its MRI machine for human use. While feasible, logistical challenges exist, including the need for a separate reception area and trained human MRI technicians. In addition, operational and maintenance costs must be negotiated. Fraser also noted plans to explore additional private partnerships and optimize the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s MRI capacity. The AVC is fundraising for facility upgrades to potentially support human patients, marking a collaborative effort to address the province’s diagnostic imaging crisis.

Read the full story HERE: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-charlottetown-avc-mri-1.7410253