Mobile CT Scanner at Brightshores Owen Sound to Support Imaging Services During Upgrade
A mobile CT unit now in place at Brightshores Owen Sound ensures uninterrupted diagnostic imaging while a new permanent scanner is installed, with support from hospital foundations and donors.
People arriving at Brightshores Owen Sound Hospital may have noticed something different: a large, mobile trailer now stationed in the Emergency Department parking lot.
Inside is a temporary mobile CT (Computed Tomography) scanner, brought in to ensure continued access to diagnostic imaging while the hospital transitions to a new, state-of-the-art permanent CT scanner.
The mobile unit is fully equipped to provide critical imaging services during this interim period. CT scans are essential for diagnosing a range of conditions, including strokes, cancers, internal injuries, and infections, and are used across emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care.
"We would like to thank everyone for their patience and support as we carry out this important upgrade," said Ann Ford, President and CEO of Brightshores Health System. "We're investing in the future of care at Brightshores, and this is one more step in ensuring our hospital continues to deliver exceptional care, close to home, for everyone in Grey Bruce."
The mobile scanner is part of a carefully planned transition. While most imaging will continue in Owen Sound, some patients may be redirected to Brightshores Southampton Hospital, depending on their care needs. The Southampton site added a second CT scanner in late 2023. Stroke patients, however, will continue to receive scans in Owen Sound, where the regional stroke program is based.
“Having the mobile CT on site in Owen Sound is an exciting sign of progress,” said Kathy Beattie, Director of Medical Imaging. “This temporary unit ensures access to imaging services with minimal disruption during the transition.”
Hospital staff are available to guide patients and families during the transition. Once the new permanent scanner is installed and operational, the mobile unit will be decommissioned and removed from the site.
The new scanner has been funded through recent campaigns by local hospital foundations. “We are grateful to our foundations and the many donors for their support,” the hospital stated. “These advanced tools support Brightshores’ efforts to deliver the highest standards of care and improve access for patients across our communities.”
