Temporary service change: KBRH nuclear medicine
By Interior Health Authority
Starting today, work begins to replace old nuclear medicine technology at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) with a new SPECT CT camera, which will provide better images and enhance patient care.
Redeveloping the nuclear medicine department is also part of this $1.63 million project, funded by the Province of B.C./Interior Health (IH) and the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District.
Construction will temporarily suspend nuclear medicine testing at the hospital for about 15 weeks, with expected completion at the end of September.
Other medical imaging services (X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI) will not be impacted.
Information for patients:
During construction and installation of the new machine, patients requiring nuclear medicine exams will be directed to Penticton Regional Hospital or alternate facilities based on their care needs.
Patients should discuss their specific imaging needs with their family physician or specialist. Alternate imaging like CT or ultrasound may be an alternative in some cases.
Interior Health recognizes this is an inconvenience to these patients and appreciates their patience and understanding as we make these important improvements to medical imaging for Kootenay Boundary patients.
The new SPECT CT camera will improve the imaging available to the physicians and specialists who are providing care to their patients. As well, the new equipment will ensure KBRH has access to emergency CT scans if/when the primary CT scanner is unavailable due to regular upgrades, repairs and eventual replacement.
General background:
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and determine the severity of or treat a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological disorders and other abnormalities within the body.
Nuclear medicine is rarely used as an emergency medical imaging tool.
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