The Stoney Health Centre is anticipating their new digital radiography (DR) machine to be fully operational in the next couple of weeks.
Funds amounting to $300,000 were granted to the Stoney Health Centre to purchase the machine, operating system and start-up operational costs — courtesy of the Mini Thni Foundation (the charitable arm of the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino).
“Dr. Ellis Quarshie at the Stoney Health Centre had applied for funding some time ago, indicating that their current X-Ray equipment was antiquated,” explained George Keller, executive director of the Mini Thni Foundation.
“Our board of directors, made up of members of Stoney Tribal Administration and volunteer Stoney Nation members, made a decision to grant the funds, subject to Alberta Gaming and Liquor Control board approval (which was granted).”
Replacing a 26-year-old machine that was obsolete and often malfunctioned, Quarshie said that machine would vastly improve health services for Nation members. The machine and equipment was ordered four months ago and arrived around one month ago; it is currently going through connectivity.
“Digital radiography (DR) is a form of X-Ray, where digital sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film,” said Quarshie.
“DR offers many advantages over film radiography. The most important advantage is an overall decrease of radiation dose to the patient in most cases. Even if a patient is over-exposed, the image will usually turn out or can be manipulated to look so another exposure is not required thereby reducing radiation dosage.”
Quarshie added that the post-processing techniques of digital imagery improve diagnostics and the use of this technology improves precision, quality assurance and efficiency.
“We are very grateful to the Mini Thni Foundation for securing the DR equipment for us,” he said, adding that the health centre had tried a number of times to get funding from Health Canada, but had been advised that there were ‘no funds for capital projects’.
“This contribution is to a sustainable funding initiative that is going to give back to the Stoney Nation,” said Keller.
