In response to the demands of today's health care challenges, the Provincial Medical Imaging Office (PMIO) was established to improve the planning, coordination, and delivery of medical imaging services across the province of British Columbia. The PMIO will facilitate system-wide changes in partnership with B.C. health authorities to build a more sustainable, equitable and integrated medical imaging system that improves access and patient care. The PMIO has established the provincial Medical Imaging Council, a forum bringing together senior leadership from health authorities and community partners to advance medical imaging in B.C.
Medical imaging includes a wide variety of imaging modalities, which serve as methods to view the internal structures and functions of the body. The many exams available aid in the diagnoses, monitoring and treatment of medical conditions and are delivered by a skilled team of specialized health-care professionals such as technologists, sonographers, nurses, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, physicists, and support staff.
Imaging modalities include:
- General Radiography (X-Ray)
- Fluoroscopy (Fluoro)
- Interventional Radiography (IR)
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound (US)
- Echocardiography (Echo)
- Nuclear Medicine (NM)
- Bone Densitometry (BD)
- Screening and Diagnostic Mammography
The PHSA mobile MRI and CT trailers are provincial assets that were purchased in 2023 and are being operated by the Provincial Medical Imaging Office. The mobile trailers will support hospitals with existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) programs to maintain existing imaging capacity during a planned or unplanned MRI or CT downtime. The MRI and CT trailers offer the following benefits:
- Flexibility: Deployable to locations undergoing refurbishment, replacement, or experiencing an extended downtime.
- Accessibility: Brings advanced imaging capabilities to remote or rural areas without the need for patients to travel long distances. Provides a continuation of MRI/CT services at the deployed site during their planned or unplanned downtime.
- Rapid Deployment: Preparation and setup quickly obtained to maintain imaging services.
- Disaster Response: Quickly mobilized to provide imaging services in areas affected by natural disasters.
PHSA's mobile MRI trailer is available for reservation to support B.C. hospitals during planned or unplanned MRI downtimes, ensuring continuous patient care and diagnostic services. When not deployed to a site, PHSA's mobile MRI trailer operates from its home site at Sechelt Hospital.
Requests are to be made six months in advance unless there is a unique equipment failure that represents a downtime of more than one month. The Mobile MRI trailer can be reserved for four to six months. This includes two months for setup, construction, acceptance testing and accreditation. If a longer allotment of time is required, please provide an explanation on the request form for the extension. A decision will be made and communicated by the PMIO regarding the extension request.
The requesting site will be responsible for any costs associated with the MRI trailer, including transport delivery fees, construction and setup costs, accreditation fees and all clinical supplies, as well as coordinating biomedical and physics acceptance testing, and the Diagnostic Accreditation Program assessment.
- View the booking calendar to see where the trailer is currently deployed and select an available date for your reservation.
- Fill out the online form and submit your request.
- Wait for a decision about your request.
The MRI scanner is a Signa Voyager 1.5T (Tesla) state-of-the-art medical imaging system developed by GE Healthcare. The MRI trailer offers the following features:
- High-Resolution Imaging: The 1.5T magnet provides clear, detailed images of soft tissues, organs, and other internal structures essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Wide Bore Design: The Signa Voyager features a wider bore, which enhances patient comfort and reduces claustrophobia.
- Advanced Software: Sophisticated imaging software is included for various applications, such as neuroimaging, musculoskeletal imaging, and breast imaging. Artifact reduction minimizes common artifacts, such as motion or metal artifacts, enhancing image clarity.
- Efficiency: Designed for faster scan times without compromising image quality, improves patient throughput. Additional features such as automated positioning and pre-programmed protocols aid in streamlining the scanning process.
- Patient Comfort: Features such as reduced acoustic noise, adaptive AIR coils, and enhanced monitoring systems ensure patient safety and comfort throughout the scan.
Left:
Magnet Room; Right: Technologist Control Room.
PHSA's mobile CT trailer is available for reservation to support hospitals during a planned or unplanned CT downtime, ensuring continuous patient care and diagnostic services. When not deployed to a site, PHSA's mobile CT trailer operates from its home site at Chilliwack General Hospital.
Requests are to be made six months in advance unless there is a unique equipment failure that represents a downtime of more than one month. The Mobile CT trailer can be reserved for four to six months. This includes two months for setup, construction, acceptance testing, and accreditation. If a longer allotment of time is required, please provide an explanation on the request form for the extension. A decision will be made and communicated by the PMIO regarding the extension request.
The requesting site will be responsible for any costs associated with the CT trailer, including transport delivery fees, construction and setup costs, accreditation fees and all clinical supplies, as well as coordinating biomedical and physics acceptance testing, and the Diagnostic Accreditation Program assessment.
- View the booking calendar to see where the trailer is currently deployed and select an available date for your reservation.
- Fill out the online form and submit your request.
- Wait for a decision about your request.
For questions about this process, please email PHSACTMRITrailers@phsa.ca.
The CT scanner inside the CT trailer is a GE Revolution Maxima, a cutting-edge computed tomography system developed by GE Healthcare known for its advanced imaging capabilities and patient-centric design. Other features of the CT trailer include:
- High-Resolution Imaging: Provides exceptional image clarity and detail for a wide range of clinical applications including neuro, musculoskeletal and oncological imaging, essential for accurate diagnosis.
- Advanced Software and Reconstruction: Iterative reconstruction uses advanced algorithms for faster, more accurate image reconstruction, reducing artifacts and improving image clarity. Volumetric Imaging provides detailed 3D images that are crucial for complex diagnoses and surgical planning.
- Smart Dose Technology: Incorporates dose optimization techniques such as Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASiR-V) to minimize radiation exposure while maintaining image quality.
- Intelligent Positioning System (Auto Positioning): Utilizes artificial intelligence to automatically position patients accurately, reducing setup time and increasing efficiency. This feature uses a 3D camera and computer vision technology to align the patient with the scan plane precisely.
- Efficiency: Designed for faster scan times without compromising image quality, improves patient throughput. Additional features such as automatic patient positioning and auto-start streamline operations, reducing time between scans.
- Patient-Centric Design: Features such as a wide bore, lower table height and quiet operation reduce patient anxiety and improves patient comfort and safety throughout the scan.
Left: Scanner room (Contrast warmer not included); Right: Technologist Control Room.
