Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is making dramatic progress constructing an addition to its existing building which will house the future magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment. The expansion of imaging services to include MRI marks a significant milestone in growing healthcare services for the communities GBGH serves.
“Anyone who has visited GBGH in the past two months will notice a drastic and exciting change to the front façade of the building,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “Since breaking ground in late June, we have made significant progress in our MRI project. We anticipate being just a couple months away from having the equipment arrive and then, just a few more months after that, we will be able to scan our first patient at GBGH in early 2025.”
MRI services at GBGH will enhance the overall patient experience, improve health outcomes, and reduce wait times as local patients will not be on the waitlists at other facilities in Barrie and Orillia. The hospital has been funded to operate the MRI for 2,000 hours annually, meaning approximately 2,000 patients will have an opportunity to receive this diagnostic procedure locally.
Some of the construction milestones reached to date include setting up the site, excavation, fortifying the foundation and footings, connecting plumbing, and pouring concrete for the columns and the slab. Next steps in construction include exterior framing (walls/windows), roof supports and drainage system installation, exterior doors and windows, interior framing and drywall, and mechanical/electrical rough-ins.
With a total investment of over $8 million, this groundbreaking project underscores GBGH’s commitment to providing more services closer to home. The GBGH Foundation has been fundraising for the MRI over the past 21 months with the goal of raising $4 million toward the project. The fundraising tally currently sits at $2.92 million.
“This incredible progress at GBGH is a testament to the hundreds of donors who have invested to make this project a reality,” says Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation. “And, we continue to work with our community to fundraise the remaining $1 million so that thousands of patients can receive this vital diagnostic service close to home.”