Ultrasound Services - Close to Home
Meet Tina Hayden, Sheila Jordan and Jenna Crombie
They are Ultrasound Technologists and part of the Diagnostic Imaging team at WDMH. Every day, they perform important diagnostic tests, saving local community members a trip to the city, and helping patients get the answers they are looking for.
The three ultrasound machines that Tina, Sheila and Jenna use have been paid for by our donors like you - because the provincial government does not fund medical equipment for Ontario hospitals. In the past 10 years, almost 70,000 ultrasounds have been done at WDMH, with over 8,100 procedures in the last year alone.
Because of donor generosity, WDMH was able to replace one of the three machines. The quality of images from the new machine is spectacular. Technology has advanced to a point where things that were too small to be identified before can now be identified using this unit.
We want all of our patients to benefit from this new technology. To do that, we need to replace the other two machines. They are about 10 years old – and, while still serving our patients well at this very moment – they use older, outdated technology. Eventually, the company that made the machines will stop serving these older units and that is going to be a problem. We need to replace these machines before that happens. The cost of two new machines is roughly $326,000.
How will replacing these machines help patients?
- They help patients get the answers they are looking for when they aren’t feeling well.
- The newer machines offer clearer, more detailed images, greater accuracy, and reduce the need for repeated procedures.
- Certain procedures require a high level of precision to be effective. The probes on the newer machines are able to pick up tinier details than before. It works very well on scans of smaller body parts.
- Smaller details can be seen at an earlier stage due to the better quality images provided by the new machines. The better the image, the more exact the diagnosis. That early diagnosis can lead to more treatment options. And that will often lead to better outcomes for patients. If it can’t be seen, it can’t be diagnosed.
- Providing important ultrasound procedures close to home saves patients a trip to the city, something that is valued by many people.
- We will be able to keep up to the current demand for ultrasound procedures.
- We want the latest, most up-to-date technology for our patients, helping to provide compassionate, excellent health care, close to home.
What types of ultrasound procedures are offered at WDMH?
- Body images (can include the entire or part of the chest, abdomen, and/or pelvis) for gallstones and kidney stones, cysts or tumours.
- Obstetrical imaging for pregnancies including First Trimester Screening testing.
- Upper body exams (thyroid, face, and neck) for tumours or abnormal lymph nodes.
- Breast studies to have a closer look at a lesion when dealing with potential cases of cancer. These look at the size, shape, and location of images.
- Extremities and Doppler ultrasounds – checks major arteries and veins for narrowing or blockages by measuring the amount of blood flow.
How can I make a difference?
Please give as generously as you can to our General Equipment Fund.
Having access to more advanced technology available with the new ultrasound machines could mean an early diagnosis and better treatment for a lot of people.
Thank you for your support. You make a difference.
Visit our donation module to make an online gift.