Hôpital Glengarry Memorial Hospital installs new X-ray machine

Hôpital Glengarry Memorial Hospital (HGMH) is thrilled to announce the arrival of a new digital general radiography (x-ray) machine. The purchase is the result of another successful fundraising effort by the hospital's Foundation. This state-of-the-art equipment will provide many new benefits including higher-quality images.

Housing the new machine required a complete renovation of the x-ray room, a project that started in January and was completed in May, a month ahead of schedule. The renovation saw the room enlarged and includes upgraded lead lining to meet current regulations, plus added elements like HVAC, an updated electrical component, and dimmable lights.

HGMH Senior Medical Radiation Technologist Jessica Duperron is training staff on the new equipment, a Ysio Max from Siemens, and says she’s excited about the new Diagnostic Imaging suite. Besides higher-quality images, the addition of two portable detectors allows for reduced radiation doses and for images to be taken digitally even when a patient is confined to a wheelchair or on a stretcher. With automation, the machine also can move itself into specified positions at the press of a button. Besides being easier for patients, there's a benefit to staff in removing the strain of constantly re-positioning the x-ray equipment manually as they did previously.

Fundraising for the equipment was accomplished ahead of schedule with a boost from a $100,000 anonymous donation. The Foundation used the donation to initiate a matching campaign in the summer of 2017 that raised another $150,000 including gifts from The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group ($25,000) and the Hospital Auxiliary ($50,000).

The hospital's annual Jubilee event plus the efforts of individual donors and community groups were also integral to the campaign's success. "The fact that we raised this money in two-and-a-half years when we thought it would take five speaks volumes for the generosity of the community," says Pierre Vaillancourt, HGMH Foundation Chair.

HGMH CEO Michael Cohen says the upgraded equipment exemplifies HGMH's ongoing commitment to boosting patient care. "The new x-ray machine provides tangible improvements to the quality and safety of our diagnostics through improved technology," says Cohen. He adds that the overall effort from fundraising to implementation shows what's possible when a community comes together.

"My heartfelt thanks goes to our Foundation, along with Louise Quenneville, Project Manager, our Diagnostic Imaging staff, as well as our community for making this dream a reality," says Corey Kalsi, HGMH Board Chair.  "We are very proud of our partnership with the Foundation and know this new addition to our hospital will serve our community for years to come."