Imaging and Imagining

Imaging technology is at the forefront of all medical diagnoses. From acute care settings to complex emergencies, MRIs, X-Rays, and Ultrasounds play an important role in a patient’s journey from illness and disease to diagnosis and management of ailments. And the newest medical imaging technologies can transform the care experience for both patients and physicians, providing more accurate diagnosis and improved outcomes for all. But just like our own mobile phones and computers, medical imaging devices eventually become outdated and difficult to update or repair. The key difference is cost: these essential healthcare tools are prohibitively expensive to purchase, and often require significant structural alterations to hospitals in order to get them into their physical locations. In this episode of Power to Heal, we’ll speak with two medical imaging professionals who have first-hand experience of the frustrations resulting from breakdowns of ageing equipment, and the resulting delays for patients as their wait times for urgently-needed medical scans stretches on. We’ll also learn how the latest imaging equipment vastly improves both the patient experience and the quality of medical information they reveal. Rounding out this episode is a fascinating “insider” look at how the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation is gearing up for an ambitious fundraising campaign targeting urgently-needed upgrades to the hospital’s medical imaging department. The “Imagine” campaign’s goal: $10 million, the cost of acquiring and installing new, state-of-the-art imaging equipment. Guests: Kevin Enns, Operations Director for Lower Mainland Medical Imaging at Delta, Burnaby, Peace Arch, and Richmond Hospitals. Dr. Bippan Sangha, Head of Radiology at Peace Arch Hospital. Kate Ludlam, Director of Philanthropy at Peace Arch Hospital Foundation and lead for the foundation’s campaign for New Medical Imaging Equipment. ABOUT THE POWER TO HEAL PODCAST Presented by Peace Arch Hospital Foundation in White Rock, British Columbia, Power to Heal takes you behind the scenes of an innovative hospital foundation and introduces you to the team who find new and sometimes surprising ways to engage with the local community and help fund the best health care possible in the region. An integral part of hundreds of thousands of communities worldwide are their hospitals. The engine that drives those institutions are their foundations, without which the wheels of progress would turn very slowly. This series uncovers the ways Peace Arch Hospital Foundation connects with the community to stay ahead of health issues, challenge the norm and foster a spirit of innovation. Since 1988, the Foundation has raised over $195 million for capital projects, medical equipment, and community health programs. Their passionate and caring team’s number one priority is the prudent stewardship of your gifts and the resulting positive impact on patients and medical staff at Peace Arch Hospital and the entire White Rock-South Surrey community. The Power to Heal series is hosted by Wayne Cox, veteran television/radio broadcaster and long-time resident of the White Rock/South Surrey area. Subscribe to Power to Heal wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. For more information on the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, or to make a donation, visit pahfoundation.ca.