New SPECT CT equipment celebrated at East Kootenay Regional Hospital

A grand opening was held Tuesday for a new and essential piece of equipment at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.

The East Kootenay Foundation for Health celebrated the purchase and installation of the hospital’s new SPECT CT.

Foundation Executive Director Brenna Baker says this took the efforts of an entire community of supporters to make happen.

“Our goal is to improve healthcare in the East Kootenay,” Baker says. “I’ve been with the Foundation almost six years now and I see the good work that we’re doing and I see the good work ahead that we have to do. We look forward to your continued support.”

Nuclear Medicine Professional Practice Leader Evan Revie says the machine will do wonders in assessing many medical conditions locally, including various forms of cancer, lung clots, kidney function and heart conditions.

“Having a vital piece of equipment that was on its last leg and breaking down constantly made it a lot more difficult for us here,” Revie says. “It made our lives here a lot easier over the last few months working on it hands on.”

Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka was among the dignitaries present at the event.

He says its essential to have this kind of equipment locally.

“We’ve seen severance of our relationship with Alberta,” Shypitka says. “The proximity that we have to Kelowna, to Victoria, to Vancouver is lengthy, its timely, its costly, its not supportive and so all these pieces that we can bring to this regional hospital is super important.”

Kootenay East Regional Hospital District Chair David Wilks says many people throughout the Kootenay region will benefit from this equipment.

“Its long overdue, $2.88 million,” Wilks says. “Really appreciative of the Foundation for their donation of $1 million. $869,000 came from the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District through taxation of everyone here, from every person from Golden over to Creston.”

The SPECT CT campaign began back in September 2019, with the East Kootenay Foundation for Health raising 1.2 million dollars towards the 2.88 million dollar price tag for the equipment.

The East Kootenay Regional Hospital was the only regional hospital in BC not to have a SPECT CT prior to its installation.