By Vivian Collings

Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) can now CT scan patients right down the hall from the emergency room in the Haliburton hospital.

Construction is finished, and the scanner has been operational for a week, taking up to seven patients a day.

“To say that team and I are excited about this moment in our HHHS and community history would be a serious understatement,” said Veronica Nelson, HHHS president and CEO.

Nelson started her health care career in diagnostic imaging as an X-Ray technician.

“Seeing this program begin 20 years ago and now come to life while I am president and CEO is a real pinch-me moment.”

The CT scanner began taking patients on Tuesday, July 9.

“I remember when the application for the CT scanner first came in, and now it’s here and working which is just amazing,” said Irene Odell, HHHS board of directors chair. “We’re really looking forward to increasing the health care that we provide to this community because it’s a pretty incredible place.”

Nelson thanked the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation staff and board for their fundraising efforts to bring the scanner to the Highlands. 

“We’re all working together to optimize health and well-being in Haliburton County,” Nelson said. “This is a monumental goal.”

The CT scanner will be able to take 6,000 patients a year.

“We’ll be able to reduce wait times for our patients, and we’ll be able to keep ambulances local to service our community,” Nelson said.

Haliburton County Paramedics spent more than 2,000 hours transferring patients out of county for CT scans alone.

“This symbolizes commitment to advancing health care in our region. It couldn’t have been made possible without all of the collaborative efforts and support of many individuals and organizations,” said MPP for Haliburton – Kawartha Lakes – Brock Laurie Scott.

Among those in attendance were Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health for Ontario and Scott Ovenden, Chief Regional Officer for East and Toronto Regions of Ontario Health.

“When I look at what you have been able to accomplish as a community, it has been a challenging time. The fact that you focused on things that were going to make a direct impact on patient care – it couldn’t happen without committed donors, committed staff, so congratulations,” Jones said.

HHHS is also set to receive a mammography unit by the end of this year.

“I’m particularly excited about the mammography,” Jones said. “We’re changing and increasing access for women who are 40 and above who would like to self-refer. Having that access in your community is going to help make their decision much easier.”

The hospital’s bone density scanner will also be moved next door to the mammography unit.