The permanent MRI at Penticton Regional Hospital’s new David E. Kampe Tower is not going to be available until the flooring in the room is perfect, according to Interior Health staff.
Brent Kruschel, capital planning and projects chief project officer with Interior Health, explained getting the MRI up and running is a matter of replacing the flooring under the machine.
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The room with the MRI has a sub-floor that must be built up for the scanner to function properly, said Kruschel. That part of the construction of the David E. Kampe Tower, which opened on Monday, is yet to be completed.
“It has to be perfect. That equipment is very heavy. It’s very sensitive and it’s very expensive so we need to make sure that floor is perfect. It’s going to take a bit of time but we’re going to carry on with full MRI service by bringing a mobile MRI.”
Along with other gifts, David Kampe donated $3-million to the hospital in 2016 to ensure the new tower would have full MRI service when built. Patients needing an MRI will have to continue to use the mobile van, that is shared with communities in the Kootenays until the proper flooring is constructed. It is stationed at PRH for two weeks each month.
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“These things happen in construction. We have to get it right. The machine has a 10-year life on it. It is the latest and greatest MRI in Canada. That floor needs to be perfect. We’re going to take a bit more time but it is a great service,” said Kruschel.
