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A million-dollar donation will help change the way X-ray imaging — the most utilized diagnostic procedure — is performed at the largest hospital in Saskatchewan, the Royal University Hospital Foundation says.
Royal University Hospital Foundation and BHP on Monday announced $1 million in support from the mining giant to transform x-ray imaging. According to the foundation, the money will fund state-of-the-art digital technology for RUH’s two busiest x-ray suites and replace outdated computer and cassette-based processes that have been in place for around two decades.
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The outcome: instant access to higher-quality images will allow doctors and staff to make quicker decisions and treatment plans. X-rays are typically the first form of diagnosis for a wide array of illnesses and injuries, ranging from emergency trauma to planned procedures to various cancer surgeries.
“Better image quality leads to a more accurate diagnosis resulting in more timely and effective treatment,” Saskatchewan Health Authority vice-president of clinical and support services Bryan Witt said on Monday.
The refurbished X-ray suites are expected to be operational this year.
According to the RUH Foundation, around 68,000 patients pass through the hospital’s general x-ray department each year. Approximately 81,000 exams are performed in the three x-ray rooms, including the two earmarked for upgrading.
Overall, Royal University Hospital receives more than 150,000 registered patients annually; around 40 per cent are residents of communities outside Saskatoon and area.
Saskatchewan Health Minister Everett Hindley said such examples of support are always welcomed by the province. On Monday, he extended the government’s “thanks and gratitude” to BHP for a donation “that will help modernize the x-ray suites at the Royal University Hospital and will greatly benefit patients.”
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He also noted the ongoing work by the RUH Foundation, which since its inception in 1983 has helped generate more than $170 million for patient care and research.
Hindley praised the foundation’s “long-standing commitment and fundraising efforts to support medical excellence and advancements in care for patients at our province’s largest hospital. Announcements like this demonstrate the importance of a growing and prosperous economy that is able to support investment into essential services like health care.”
BHP’s Karina Gistelinck stressed the value of giving back to the community in Saskatchewan, saying there “is nothing more important than the health of our families and loved ones.”
RUH Foundation CEO Jennifer Molloy said having a community partner like BHP helps keep “the province’s largest clinical, teaching, and research hospital at the forefront of modern medicine in Saskatchewan.
“With the support of donors like BHP, we are helping ensure patients with the most life-threatening illnesses and injuries receive the best specialized and complex life-saving care available in the province while at RUH.”
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