Kincardine hears, yet again, hospital board’s case for Edge Plus CT scanner

Kincardine council sat through another presentation by the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, explaining its decision to purchase an Edge Plus CT scanner for the Kincardine hospital, even though the municipality has already approved a motion to support a Drive CT scanner at the hospital.

In committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (Feb. 17), health centre president and chief executive officer Michael Barrett, and board chairman John Gilbert, made the presentation. The heath centre represents hospital sites in Kincardine, Walkerton, Chesley and Durham.

Barrett reiterated the $2.7-million in financial support from the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation, which includes $1-million from Bruce Power, for the CT scanner, as well as the $1.4-million capital grant from the province for construction of the CT suite addition.

He emphasized once more that the internal components of the Edge Plus are identical to the Drive CT – both use the same detectors and tubes, same radiation dose, same software platform, same slice thickness, producing identical image quality, with the exception that the Drive has two tubes and two generators.

“It has been stated that the Edge Plus is a variation of the Edge model of scanner, which is incorrect,” said Barrett. “The Edge Plus scanner is a Drive scanner with one tube instead of two.”

He stressed that the Edge Plus is the newest Siemens CT technology available, having been approved just last year.

“It is unfortunate that the Edge Plus is being portrayed on social media as being solely ‘the cheaper model,’ when, in fact, it is the newest CT technology available from Siemens, and far outperforms most other options on the market,” he said.

Barrett said the Edge Plus has twin-beam technology which allows it to perform similar to the Drive (two tubes) with one tube.

He also stressed that the lower capital cost of the Edge Plus, and low-cost maintenance and operation of the machine, free up resources for other programs, such as $2-million in capital equipment needs and the $10-million hospital redevelopment cost.

Barrett said the care of patients at the Kincardine hospital will not be compromised; in fact, it will be significantly improved with the addition of the CT scanner. “It is irresponsible to suggest that the selection of the Edge Plus could impact the ability to save lives.”

He said the physicians group has voiced concern about the ability of the Edge Plus to support a cardiac program, based on the advice of Dr. Nikolas Tzemos.

“This concern was investigated in consultation with Dr. Gerard Shoemaker, London cardiologist, and his colleagues who have seen more than 2,000 cardiac patients at the Kincardine hospital over the past four years,” said Barrett. “Dr. Shoemaker has advised, unequivocally, that the model of CT scanner will have no impact on the cardiac program.”

He added that Kincardine is not a designated stroke centre, and there is no plan for a comprehensive cardiac imaging centre at the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, or at the 17-bed Kincardine hospital.

Barrett said the CT project is just the beginning for the Kincardine hospital, emphasizing the real, and much-needed, transformation that will occur with the hospital redevelopment project. Phase 1 (expanded emergency department, diagnostic imaging, lab and registration, and larger decontamination room) has a price tag of $66-million, while Phase 2 (inpatient unit, operating room, pharmacy and administration) will cost $113-million.

Construction has already begun on the CT scanner addition at the entrance of the hospital, with the hospital board expecting to break ground for the new CT this fall.



Kincardine deputy mayor Randy Roppel (top left) and members of council listen to presentations by representatives of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, and the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation, Wednesday night

The hospital foundation also made a presentation to council, represented by president Becky Fair and vice-president Jack Nancekivell.

Fair gave some background about the foundation and explained that its function is to raise funds for the Kincardine hospital. The other three hospital sites have their own foundations.

The Kincardine hospital foundation is comprised of volunteers who serve on a board of directors, with one full-time staff member.

With reference to the CT scanner project, Fair said the foundation has no intention of weighing in on the controversy because it does not have the expertise to judge the relative merits of the two machines; and its relationship with the hospital board is based on mutual respect.

“The hospital board does not tell us how to raise funds, or how to spend them,” she said. “It only makes requests for funding, to which we respond. We similarly respect the hospital board. It has the duty to manage our hospital and the decision to purchase a CT scanner is clearly within its jurisdiction, not ours.”

Nancekivell outlined the current state of foundation funds, which is substantial, with $11-million in investments, and $3-million set aside for this year’s capital expenditures (including the CT scanner). He added that the foundation will be looking at a fund-raising target of $10-million for the hospital redevelopment project.

Councillor Maureen Couture asked Barrett what the advantage is of having the second tube in the Drive CT scanner.

He said it allows for faster scans, with two tubes going around the “donut,” for advanced CT scanning, such as required at cardiac centres. However, he said the Walkerton hospital rarely uses both tubes in its Drive CT machine.

As for radiation dosage, both the Edge Plus and the Drive are the same, he said.

Councillor Doug Kennedy said that the majority of the people in Kincardine want the Drive CT at the Kincardine hospital. The doctors want the Drive CT, and council 10 days ago approved a motion to put a substantial amount of money toward getting a Drive CT.

“I’m confident that this municipality will raise the funds necessary for the redevelopment of the hospital – for our kids and our grandkids,” he said. “Mr. Barrett, you are absolutely right. We have had a lot of things taken from our hospital and many people find it hard to believe that this decision is in the best interests of this municipality.

“I spoke to a doctor recruit three weeks ago and she said to me that she was disappointed the board was not backing the doctors in getting a Drive CT scanner at the hospital.

“I’m concerned about having the first Edge Plus machine in Canada. I was hoping, with all due respect, that you would change your mind and purchase the Drive CT.”

“I know the foundation is nervous about this issue,” said deputy mayor Randy Roppel who was chairing the meeting in the absence of the mayor. “I hope the decision about this CT scanner doesn’t affect your ability to go and raise money for the redevelopment of the hospital. You shouldn’t suffer because of this situation.”

He asked Barrett if the Edge Plus CT scanner has been purchased yet.

“No,” said Barrett.

“As an elected official at this table, I supported the motion of council hoping the board would reconsider its position with respect to the other scanner,” said Roppel.

“I know it’s the board’s decision, and we can only ask for consideration. But at the end of the day, a scanner is better than no scanner. We’d like to have the best of the best, provided we can afford it.

“None of this should reflect on the hospital foundation. Without the foundation, the municipality would have to fund all the equipment needs and we couldn’t do it. The foundation does a great job.

“If the board goes ahead with what it said it’s going with, so be it. You all have to live with the outcome.”

Couture said council should have another discussion with the doctors, as well as the health centre’s chief radiologist, Dr. Douglas Mowbray.

Councillor Bill Stewart agreed. “We should bring them back and ask them some questions.”

Roppel thanked both boards for attending the meeting.

“The hospital board understands there will be people who do not believe we are working in the best interests of the community,” said Barrett. “But we’ll move forward. This will be a good news story for Kincardine and will help attract new physicians.”