More MRI scans coming for Hospitals in B.C.

Fraser Health is purchasing two private magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clinics to provide medically necessary exams to patients throughout the Fraser Valley. The Fraser Health Authority is one of six publicly funded health care Regions in B.C.These purchases are part of the government’s Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Strategy.

“People have been waiting too long for publicly funded diagnostic services,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “That’s why we are adding these clinics to the public health-care system, so we can to cut waitlists and deliver services for people closer to home.”

Effective Oct. 1, 2018, Fraser Health is taking ownership of two privately owned MRI clinics, Surrey MRI in Surrey and Fraser Valley MRI Clinic in Abbotsford. Clinic staff will become health authority employees, with Fraser Health assuming assets and infrastructure. Both clinics will start providing publicly funded exams within a month.

Under the new B.C. Surgical and Diagnostic strategy, the Province is on track to increase the number of MRIs by more than 37,000, for a total of 225,000, by March 31, 2019. In addition to this total, these newly acquired clinics will provide 2,000 more exams. They will deliver 10,000 exams annually, starting April 1, 2019.

“A year ago, there was just one public MRI operating 24/7, and this year there are eight. Overall, we have added 800 MRI operating hours throughout the province, helping more patients get on the path to recovery faster,” said Dix.