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Concordia closer to CAT scan goalHospital needs $100,000 moreBy James CramptonIf another $100,000 can be raised, the Concordia Hospital will have a powerful ally in its war against cancer, the hospital's executive director said last week.Sig Enns said that the hospital has raised $400,000 for the purchase of its first compact CT scanner, better known as a CAT scan. The device uses X-rays to detect cancer in patients.“We’re now in the position where we can maybe reach our goal of half a million by April or May (of 1990),“Enns said of the $500,000 fundraising drive that began two years ago.Enns called the hospital’s oncology, or chemotherapy unit, “diseouragingly active with an average of 200 patients each month.When the money has been raised, Concordia will open the project to tender. Several electronic companies produce the diagnostic device, including General Electric and Phillips.Nevertheless, he said the hospital will still need the Manitoba Health Services Commission to fund the costs of staffing and maintenance at thehospital which serves Transcona, Elmwood and East and North Kiidonan.One radiologistEnns also said that once the CAT (computerized axial tomography) scanner is in place, Concordia will need additional funding for the unit’s maintenance. Money will also be required, he said, to hire at least one radiologist specializing in CAT scan technology.“We’ll need $50,000 a year just for an upkeep in maintenance, plus the cost of the (X-ray) film and other equipment, plus the professional fees for theradiologist, Enns said. “The $500,000for the equipment is the capital cost. The cost of keeping this unit going will run over $100,000 annually.”But Enns believes the hospital will aquire the provincial funding it needs to operate the CAT scan. He’s also optimistic that a unit can be in place at Concordia sometime in the fiscal year between April 1,1990 and March 31,1991.Dr. Henry Dirks, the hospital’s medical director, said the addition of a CAT scan to Concordia’s oncology unit would mean thehospital could eventually cut down on the diagnostic costs.Dally transfers“Wc daily transfer an average of three people from our acute care to St. Boniface for a CAT scan, Dirks said, adding that it costs Concordia $150 to transfer each patient to St. Boniface.“And we have to supply one of our own nurses to attend to them or sometimes we have a doctortravelling with them.“Now, if only we had that unit in our own hospital. Can you imagine the manpower and time we’d be saving?He said Concordia has the city's third-busiest emergency unit (behind the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface) even though it is the smallest hospital in Winnipeg — with a budget of $19 million.Concordia has held fundraising dinners and mail-in campaigns, among other fundraisers, Enns is hoping a May . 10, dinner next year, with chief medical examiner Dr, Peter Markestyn as guest speaker, will help pull the hospital ever closer to its $500,000 goal.The largest boost the campaign received was from the Thomas Sill Foundation, which gave a matching grant of up to $100,000. See COMPACT page 4ROLAND HUEMMERry-'O-Three-way collisionLimbs went flying last Tuesday night in AAA peewee play at Hiver East Arena when Hawks East (in while) hammered Mavericks White from South Winnipeg 7-0. Hawks’ Mike Leclerc pocketed 4 goals en route to victory.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Sun, Dec 10, 1989
Page 46
Full Page
Clipped by
Jay F.
CA 28 Jul 2020
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