'This represents empowerment': Northern Sask. communities get portable X-ray machines
Some Indigenous communities have received portable X-ray machines, breaking barriers for healthcare in Northern Saskatchewan.
The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) will set up the machines in three of its First Nations.
“This represents autonomy. This represents independence. This represents empowerment for First Nations to take control of their own health care,” Genevieve St. Denis, Preventative Health Manager with PBCN, told CTV News.
The machines will be placed in Deschambault Lake, Pelican Narrows, and Southend to help manage tuberculosis (TB).
“Right now our communities are in an outbreak status of TB, so we have a number of patients and clients who require chest X-rays,” St. Denis said.
Within minutes the X-ray images are sent to Synthesis Health in Calgary, where they'll go through an algorithm to determine if there are any abnormalities. Radiologists and physicians then review the image and return the diagnosis the same day.
"We built a solution specifically to address all communications needs to be really efficient, and they need to run over low bandwidth,” Dr. Deepak Kaura, Chief Medical Officer with Synthesis Health told CTV News.
“Our goal really is to take this and partner with many Indigenous communities around Canada, and even beyond Canada, to be able to provide this level of access,” Kaura said.
St. Denis believes it would eliminate obstacles for patients, who otherwise would have had to leave their community and go to a larger centre.
"We’re able to provide that service to the patient in their home community in a timely manner," she told CTV News.
The PBCN and the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan recently came to an agreement, which allows the on-site nurses to use these machines.
St. Denis said it alleviates the process of bringing-in physicians and X-ray technicians.
“We can have a registered nurse who’s working on-site in the community with the TB patients. That nurse knows the patients, she can establish a schedule, and she can consult with a physician by phone,” she said.
St. Denis said the next steps are working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to connect Synthesis Health to its’ communication system. The goal is to have the machines operating by the end of the summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.