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Photo from left, Huntsville Hospital Foundation CEO Katherine Craine, MAHC President & CEO Cheryl Harrison, Director & Chief of Diagnostic Imaging Jason Blaichman, and Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) is one of 27 Ontario hospitals to receive operational funding for a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH) site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The announcement was made today in Huntsville by Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith following Ontario government news of a $20 million investment to expand MRI services across the province to increase access to care for patients and reduce wait times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe provincial government continues to demonstrate its commitment to expanding accessibility to critical health services in Parry Sound-Muskoka,\u201d says Smith. \u201cResidents of our area have long deserved an MRI machine and I\u2019m thrilled that we\u2019re able to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n MAHC\u2019s HDMH site has been a designated District Stroke Centre since 2006, and is the only regional stroke program without an MRI under its roof to perform time-sensitive studies before irreversible brain damage occurs. Dr. Jason Blaichman, Director & Chief of Diagnostic Imaging at MAHC, is delighted by today\u2019s announcement that over time will lead to up to 5,000 MRI scans performed locally every year at an estimated annual cost of $800,000, which will form part of MAHCs base operational funding, according to representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeing able to offer MRI services locally in our region means our patients won\u2019t have to travel out of the region for an exam that is fundamental to modern health care,\u201d explains Dr. Blaichman. \u201cOur sickest patients in the Emergency Departments or those admitted to our hospitals will be able to receive the MRI they need here, as well as the many outpatients on waiting lists. I am confident that our MRI will be an indispensable asset for many clinical programs at MAHC \u2013 not only for Muskoka\u2019s stroke centre, but also for critical and intensive care, emergency trauma, orthopedic and general surgery, internal medicine, gynecology, and oncology services.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The MRI project will be supported by $5 million in fundraising by the Huntsville Hospital Foundation by doubling the goal of its Focus on Imaging<\/em> campaign to upgrade and replace diagnostic technology at the HDMH Site to total of $10 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are grateful that our government will fund MAHC\u2019s operational costs, but it is up to us, our donors, and our generous community to raise the funds to purchase the MRI machine and cover the building alterations,\u201d says Katherine Craine, CEO of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. \u201cThis is a life-changing investment in health care for all of Muskoka and a game changer for each resident and visitor in our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheryl Harrison, President & CEO at MAHC, agrees expanding access to MRI services in Muskoka is transformational and is excited for planning to get underway to culminate in the first MRI scan in Muskoka in the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are grateful the Ministry of Health has supported expanding MRI services closer to each and every resident and visitor to Muskoka and East Parry Sound,\u201d says Harrison. \u201cWe are so fortunate that in the future we will be able to provide the highest quality imaging services in our region, resulting in more timely diagnosis and treatment for patients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This is huge news for all of Muskoka,” said District Chair Jeff Lehman. “MRI is such a foundational piece of technology. It’s like one of those big steps forward that allows you to do so many other things, but the biggest impact is I think for anybody who needs an MRI in Muskoka, no more travelling down south,” says Lehman, adding that getting an MRI is also something that can be built on for the future expansion of hospital services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We’re delighted,” said Mike Harrower, Vice Chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. “We’ve been getting ready to raise the money for the equipment,” he said, adding that he is confident the Foundation will be able to do it with help from the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock called the announcement fantastic. “I think that everybody can relate to the fact of the need for an MRI. I can think in my own family of at least two individuals who required one and in one case I had to go down to Toronto,” she said. “This is an incredible need and as mentioned we’ve been without one for a stroke centre… I am thrilled.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n