QEII COVID-19 RECOVERY

TACKLING WAIT TIMES AND REDUCING BACKLOGS FOR PATIENTS

$1.2 MILLION

committed for more appointment times and increased access

The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays for patients waiting for diagnostic scans but QEII Foundation donors are helping the QEII get back on track. From the donor-funded QEII COVID-19 Response Fund, additional technologists, sonographers, and appointment booking staff were hired to extend the hours of operation of CT-scan, ultrasound, and MRI services.

The COVID-19 Recovery strategy and supporting funding is helping us deal with a major issue. Timely access to diagnostic imaging is critical for providing the best care to patients.

– Hassan Jankari

Photo: Nuclear medicine technologist, Hassan Jankari, helps prepare radioactive tracers that can detect cancer during a patient’s PET-CT scan.

A total of 28,000 CT, ultrasound and MRI appointments were cancelled in the months after COVID-19 hit the province. Although urgent and semi-urgent appointments — including cancer care — were not cancelled, the wait times for scheduled scans increased. Donor support allowed appointments to be opened up to patients on weekends and until 11 p.m. on weeknights, with as many as 275 patients a week now receiving their diagnostic scans.

The current backlog of outpatients waiting for diagnostic imaging will be cleared and changes will be made to meet the 60-day standard of providing elective CT and ultrasound services to patients.

Photo: DI team photo

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QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation

5657 Spring Garden Road
Park Lane Mall, Suite 3005
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3R4

Phone: 902 334 1546
Toll Free: 1 888 428 0220
Fax: 902 492 8094
Email: [email protected]

Charitable Business No:
88646 3496 RR0001

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$171,000 REACHED TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH TEXT4SUPPORT