Rise & shine for MRI

Entering the hospital last Wednesday morning I could sense the buzz right away.

At 6:30 AM the line-up at the hospital Tim Horton's was longer that usual. Young men wearing bright florescent vests, safety helmets and boots were starting their day like countless other Canadians: “I'll have a double-double.” The breakfast sandwich was another popular seller.

People driving to work along St. Paul Avenue were maneuvering through pylons and special signage that had been erected during the night reducing the roadway adjacent to the Brantford General Hospital to 2 lanes.

Across the street from the D-Wing tower two retired gentlemen had settled into lawn chairs with their coffee in hand. It was clear they knew they had the best seat in the house- on their porch.

By 7 o'clock traffic along St. Paul Avenue was beginning to increase. Inside the hospital, workers had completed their operational crew meeting, safety review and assignment of tasks.

Shortly past 8 o'clock a 90- tonne crane with flashing yellow warning lights pulled alongside the hospital. The crew of 5 immediately began their work preparing the crane for the day. Meanwhile, across the street, a young boy joined the 2 men. He sat cross-legged on the sidewalk taking everything in. No doubt he would rather stay there for the day instead of going to school.

The day had finally arrived and everyone was ready. The MRI, manufactured in Germany, was on its way from Toronto. When the oversize flatbed truck pulled onto the highway with the MRI safely strapped in place, it was raining. But there was no raining on our parade in Brantford. Planning for an MRI had started 10 years ago, and our weather was sunny with blue skies.

At 9:06 AM my Blackberry vibrated with an email message from George Pankiw, Director- Facilities & Redevelopment. It was brief and succinct: “Magnet has arrived on site.”

Throughout the hospital the excitement mounted. In the diagnostic imaging department I overheard a patient ask one of the volunteers when the magnet will be lowered. Others are taking sneak peeks out the windows. On his way to the operating rooms Dr. Downie smiled, “Gary, what's the PR implication if they drop the magnet?” I said to myself, we aren't even going there.

Everyone involved with the installation followed a document ‘Brantford Hospital Anticipated Work Schedule' prepared by a Quebec company. Broken into small segments, some as brief as fifteen minutes, the day's deliverables were detailed. Attached, was the diagram outlining the altered traffic patterns for the day and a copy of a letter that had been distributed to the hospital neighbours.

The excitement peaked when the 10-ton magnet rose into the air directly behind the people that cut the ribbon to open the hatch. People cheered.

The next step is to complete the installation and prepare for the first patients expected in late- October. Oh, there is one more thing to do. The hospital Foundation is continuing to fundraising. $800,000 is needed to reach the $3-million goal to provide MRI service for our patients.

The following morning, entering the hospital, the crane was gone and traffic was back to normal. In the Horton's line, people talked about the MRI delivery the day before and grabbed their Expositor to read about the big day. It was 24-hours later- but one day closer to providing MRI scans locally.

Gary Chalk is senior executive director- public affairs & development for the Brant Community Healthcare System. Brantford General is a regional health centre providing primary, emergency and specialized services. The Willett, Paris, is a multi-service health centre providing urgent care, primary care and community outreach programs.