New digital x-ray unit opens at Buchanan Memorial Community Health Centre

A newly opened digital x-ray unit at Buchanan Memorial Community Health Centre in Neils Harbour will provide improved care for patients. 

The new unit was installed in June. It produces high quality images that make it easier for healthcare providers to detect and diagnose medical conditions. The unit is also more efficient because digital x-rays can be captured and viewed instantly, saving time for both patients and healthcare providers. 

"Improving care for our patients and providing it closer to home is a priority for us," said Glenn Cox, executive director of rural and community health in Nova Scotia Health's Eastern Zone. "The addition of the digital x-ray unit to the facility enables us to provide enhanced service to our patients and the community."

The new unit also has critical care suite (CCS) software. The suite's software uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to detect pneumothoraxes (collapsed lungs) and flag them for the radiologists and emergency department physicians. It is highly accurate and able to detect 96 percent of large and 75 percent of small pneumothoraxes. The suite's software is also able to ensure the correct placement of breathing tubes in seconds, evaluate tube location and provide the measurements to correct placement if required. 

Having this technology in place at Buchanan Memorial Community Health Centre will improve diagnosis and patient care said Raylene McGhee, director, diagnostic imaging, Eastern Zone, Nova Scotia Health. 

"With no onsite radiologists at the site, the software's capabilities can flag pneumothoraxes as high priority for emergency department physicians and on-call radiologists," she said. "The software also integrates seamlessly with our department's existing systems to help deliver high quality patient care in a rural setting. 

The unit will perform approximately 1,500 exams per year, including non-urgent, urgent/emergent outpatient and inpatient x-rays. 

Buchanan Memorial Community Health Centre is the second facility in Nova Scotia Health's Eastern Zone to have this type of unit. A similar unit was installed in June 2023 at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital.

Photo: Cutting the ribbon to offically open the new digital x-ray unit at Buchanan Memorial Community Health Centre are Anita Parsons, manager, diagnostic imaging, Nova Scotia Health, Eastern Zone; Raylene McGhee, director, diagnostic imaging, Nova Scotia Health, Eastern Zone and Glenn Cox, executive director, community and rural health, Nova Scotia Health, Eastern Zone.