PORTABLE MRI PROJECT

The availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is typically limited by cost, expertise, and setting and infrastructure requirements, resulting in long

wait times and inequitable access across Canada. Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre provides medical services to Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) which serves six communities along the James and Hudson Bay coasts in northern Ontario. Patients in WAHA requiring urgent or routine MRI are currently transported by medical charter flight to either Timmins or Kingston, Ontario.

 

The use of a portable MRI offers the advantages of reduced transports of patients, improved triaging of patients, as well as the ability to perform frequent reimaging without the risk of radiation exposure. The team’s study ultimately aims to evaluate the clinical utility and costs savings of a portable MRI in a remote setting such as WAHA.