Saskatchewan has launched the province’s first portable pediatric MRI machine located at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
The portable MRI will be able to be moved around the hospital to give a patient a brain scan in minutes allowing loved ones to be in the same room.The machine was purchased for $1 million following a donation campaign from the hospital foundation.
The donations included support from SIGA and Dakota Dunes.
“ We didn’t ask for a hand out we wanted to help,” said Saskatoon Tribal Chief at an event of dignitaries Tuesday morning at JPCH celebrating the launch of the MRI machine.
Chief Arcand spoke on the impact of gaming in the province and how much it has benefitted the province pointing to the MRI machine as another example.
“The impact of gaming has now contributed to a machine that is going to benefit this province,” he said.
The hospital foundation raised $500,000 with donations from SIGA and other donors. However, the remaining $500,000 was matched by a Saskatchewan farmer. The farmer wasn’t at the event and Tribal Chief Arcand says this was a person he wanted to meet.
The MRI machine will begin conducted brain scans.The province is providing $419,000 per year in funding for the machine’s operation.