WHISTLER -- The Whistler CT scan project marked another milestone today with the official start of construction on a facility to house the new diagnostic equipment. The new GE CT scan will be ready for patients this fall.
WHISTLER -- The Whistler CT scan project marked another milestone today with the official start of construction on a facility to house the new diagnostic equipment. The new GE CT scan will be ready for patients this fall.
"Construction on this project at the Whistler Health Care Centre speaks to the commitment of project partners to bring this new service to the communities of Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish," said West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Joan McIntyre. "Healthcare partnerships work. This is a shining example."
General Electric (GE), a worldwide Olympic partner, donated a new 64-slice CT scanner for use during the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games as a legacy gift to communities within the sea to sky corridor. Currently patients the Sea to Sky Corridor requiring CT scans must travel to North Vancouver or beyond to access the diagnostic service.
"Patients no longer must travel to Lions Gate Hospital or elsewhere to receive a CT scan," said Mary Ackenhusen, Chief Operating Officer for VCH, Coastal. "We expect that as many as 2,000 patients will receive CT scans at the Whistler Health Care Centre each year once the service is up-and-running."
Cost of the $2.29 million construction project will be jointly funded by the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District ($1.1million), and the foundations of Whistler ($897,000), Squamish ($95,000) and Pemberton ($29,000). Vancouver Coastal Health will fund the new CT scanner's $200,000 annual operating costs.
"We're pleased to announce this much anticipated project will provide a vital service to the residents and visitors of the corridor; and will be ready well in time for the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games," said Susie Gimse, Chair of the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District.
"This significant healthcare investment will improve health outcomes for our residents and visitors before, during and after the Games," said Marnie Simon, chair, Whistler Health Care Centre Foundation. "This is all due, thanks in large part, to the generosity of our many donors."
Vancouver Coastal Health is responsible for the delivery of $2.8 billion in community,hospital and residential care services to over one million people in communities from Richmond through Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
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Sarah Triantafillou
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