The temporary MRI machine at Erie Shores Health Care has completed over 1,000 scans since May reducing the overall wait time in the region by three to four weeks.
In just two months, the permanent MRI machine will be up and running inside the hospital increasing capacity even more.
"We'll be able to turn over patients in a more expedited manner than we are in the mobile unit," said ESHC CEO Kristin Kennedy. "We'll also be able to service patients that we aren't able to service in the mobile unit right now. There are patients that maybe can't come out to the mobile unit because their mobility is impacted."
Currently, high-priority patients are waiting nine to 12 months for an MRI.
If construction stays on schedule, the temporary MRI machine will shut down on November 30 and the new machine will begin operation on December 15, 2024.
The hospital foundation continues fundraising efforts to pay for the new machine. To date, it's raised $2.5 million of the $5 million goal.
The provincial government is providing $800,000 annually for the scanner's operation.
