CT scan wait times now some of the shortest in the country

A computerized tomography (CT) scan is an important tool for proper diagnosis of many illnesses and injuries.

In four short months, Gailyne MacPherson, director of Hospital Services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, along with staff, have dramatically decreased CT scan wait times from 99 weeks to about four weeks.

“Right now, we’re running the two scanners, one at Prince County Hospital and one at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, sixteen hours a day for routine patients and 8 hours a day on the weekend. Our emergency services are, as always, 24/7.”

     – Gailyne MacPherson, director of Hospital Services, QEH

Her strategy included scheduling evening scans and staffing up. By training radiography staff on CT scanner technology, more appointments became available at both hospitals. 

“I have to take my hat off to my staff,” she said. “They worked extremely hard to contact patients in short order.”

Gailyne is proud of her team for bringing down the wait times so dramatically. “It matters for practitioners, and it matters for patients. The ability to understand what’s going on with your health in a shorter period means fewer visits to your practitioner and to the emergency department. Once you know what’s happening and someone is managing what’s happening--it’s different than wondering what it is.”

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation is currently fundraising to purchase an additional CT scanner for the emergency department, which will continue to help keep down wait times.