The past six months have been very busy for Georgian Bay General Hospital!
In June, we broke ground on a 2,500 square foot addition that will house our new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. Since then, we have made dramatic progress, including setting up the site, excavation, fortifying the foundation and footings, connecting plumbing, exterior framing (walls & windows), roof supports and drainage system installation.
In December, the focus switched to interior framing and drywall, mechanical and electrical rough-ins and the installation of radiofrequency shielding in the MRI room.
The shielding is critical, as the invisible magnetic field created by the MRI is always present and is never turned off. The strength of the magnet is 30,000 times the gravitational pull of the Earth, and the pull is exerted on almost all metal objects, causing them to ‘fly’ toward the machine. For this reason, GBGH must also invest in equipment that can safely operate within the MRI space, including a stretcher, ventilator, vital signs machine and cleaning equipment.
As the interior renovations begin, we are simultaneously working on renovating a space for Digital Mammography. GBGH is currently the only hospital in Simcoe-Muskoka that does not have a mammography program, but there are thousands of women in our community who are eligible for regular screening. This program will make this important diagnostic technology available closer to home, resulting in increased screening rates, earlier detection, and better outcomes. We anticipate this program will be up and running later this year.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to our donors and community for making these important developments a reality for our hospital and our patients. You are making a difference here, and we could not do this without you.
