Ontario Government Helps Kemptville District Hospital Secure First CT Scanner

News Release – for Immediate Distribution

April 27, 2022

Kemptville – Today, Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, announced the Ontario government is helping Kemptville District Hospital secure their first computerized tomography (CT) scanner as part of the government’s plan to build a stronger, more resilient health system.

MPP Clark was joined by Nancy Peckford, Mayor of North Grenville, and Frank Vassallo, CEO of Kemptville District Hospital to make this announcement.

“After decades of inaction and underinvestment by previous governments, the people of Kemptville have had to make do with hospitals that did not have the diagnostic tools they need to provide the level of care that our growing community needs,” said MPP Clark. “Our government is fixing this problem by helping Kemptville District Hospital secure their first CT Scanner, so that all Ontarians can access world-class care they need right here in Kemptville.”

The Ontario government has officially designated Kemptville District Hospital as a CT site, which is a significant step forward to securing their first CT scanner and performing CT scans, which are an important diagnostic tool in most surgeries and cancer screenings. A CT scan uses x-rays and a computer detector to make detailed pictures of structures inside the body. In fact, some cancers can be detected earlier with more precision through CT scanning, which can allow clinicians to begin treatment sooner.

“Helping Kemptville District Hospital secure their first CT scanner is an important part of our government’s plan to build a stronger, more resilient health care system for all Ontarians,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This designation will ensure that patients and families in Kemptville and the surrounding communities have access to the high-quality care they need when they need it and closer to home.”

“The availability of crucial diagnostic tools at the Kemptville District Hospital is key to attracting new physicians, supporting the work of our paramedics, and ensuring patients get the health care they need without disruption or long delays,” said North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford. “We appreciate Ministers Elliott and Clark’s commitment to making this diagnostic equipment a reality for our community and the region.”

“I would like to express our deep gratitude to Minister Christine Elliott for designating Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) as a CT Site,” said Frank Vassallo, CEO of Kemptville District Hospital. “To say that is a game changer is an understatement. We are pleased that we can offer our Physicians, in particular our ER Physicians, a standard of care tool to more effectively treat patients. Having a CT Scan as part of our wonderful Diagnostic Imaging Dept will allow KDH to implement more robust clinical and surgical programs that rely on state of the art diagnostic Imaging technology. I would also like to thank our MPP Steve Clark for his unwavering support of KDH – especially in our quest to bring a CT Scan to Kemptville.”

QUICK FACTS

The CT scanner sends x-rays through the body area being studied. Each rotation of the scanner takes less than a half a second and provides a picture of a thin slice of the organ or area of interest. It can be used to study all parts of a person’s body such as the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and head. It can take pictures of body organs such as liver, kidneys, pancreas, colon, small bowel, heart and lungs. It can also study blood vessels, bones and the spinal cord.
To further support the high-quality care provided by Ontario’s hospitals, the government is providing an additional $827 million to hospitals across the province, representing a four per cent increase from last year. This will ensure all publicly funded hospitals receive a minimum two per cent increase to their budgets to help them better meet patient needs, while building a stronger, more resilient health care system.
To support growing demands on the health care system, Ontario’s investments over the next 10 years will lead to $30 billion in health infrastructure across the province. These investments will increase capacity in hospitals, build new health care facilities and renew existing hospitals and community health centres.