A new private magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clinic has opened in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, aiming to reduce wait times for Islanders in need of scans. Dr. Guy Boswall, one of the clinic owners, highlighted the convenience for patients who previously had to travel to Moncton for MRI scans. The clinic’s MRI scanner offers quick scans with a larger bore in the tunnel, catering to individuals who may feel claustrophobic or are larger in size.
Individuals with a referral can access the clinic, but they are required to pay out of pocket, with costs expected to be similar to private clinics in Moncton. Currently, the wait time for non-urgent MRIs on the island exceeds 14 months, leading Health P.E.I. to cover costs for patients to receive scans in Moncton, resulting in an expenditure of about $3.8 million. Boswall emphasized the need for increased MRI capacity locally to prevent Islanders from having to seek scans off the island.
While the Summerside clinic’s model aligns with a successful private cataract clinic in Charlottetown, Health P.E.I. has not yet established an agreement with the MRI clinic. Health P.E.I. clarified that emergency cases receive immediate MRI scans, urgent cases are scanned within two-and-a-half weeks on average, and semi-urgent cases experience shorter wait times compared to the previous year.
Summerside Mayor Dan Kutcher commended the clinic owners for their investment in the city and the island’s health infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of providing timely and quality care to Islanders within their own community. The establishment of the private MRI clinic signifies a step towards enhancing healthcare services for residents.