Stanton Goes Filmless

YELLOWKNIFE (March 16, 2009) – Over the course of the next three to four months, Stanton Territorial Hospital, Inuvik Regional Hospital, H. H. Williams Hospital and the Fort Smith Health Centre will go filmless. Physicians and technologists will no longer have to create or view diagnostic images using film. Instead, they will be using the Diagnostic Imaging Picture Archiving and Communications System (DI/PACS) to capture, store, distribute and review all patient diagnostic images.

There are numerous benefits of moving to DI/PACS technology:

• faster report turn-around times which results in faster diagnosis and decisions relating to treatment


• flexible viewing for physicians and hospital staff (clinicians can consult on images at the same time from different locations)


• no longer will we have the costs associated with “hard copy” film, developing and storage


• no lost or misplaced images resulting in unnecessary duplication of exams

DI/PACS is a digital system. Just like a camera that used to use film and now generates digital images that are viewed on a home computer, DI/PACS operates by using equipment to produce and view digital images on computers.

The implementation of DI/PACS throughout the four hospitals is planned to be completed by the end of May 2009.

“By moving from film to filmless, we are now able to process images much faster than before,” said the Honourable Sandy Lee, Minister of Health and Social Services. “This is an important step towards improving service delivery to our residents.”

The DI/PACS implementation will represent an investment of $5.9 million dollars: $4.3 million from Canada Health Infoway and $1.6 from the Government of the Northwest Territories.

“The availability of digitized diagnostic images means radiologists are now able to support care delivery and improve access remotely for patients who live in underserviced areas,” said Richard Alvarez, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway. “As a result, diagnoses are made much more quickly, speeding access to treatment closer to home.”

Canada Health Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Infoway jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of electronic health record projects in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these secure systems will provide clinicians and patients with the information they need to better support safe care decisions and manage their own health. Accessing this vital information quickly will help foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all Canadians.