New Brunswick's Miramichi Regional Hospital is the recipient of a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.

MRIs can be used to image brain tumours, diagnose strokes and assess cartilage damage and cardiac issues, as well as to evaluate and diagnose an array of other indications and diseases.

"This is good news for our patients in the Miramichi area," said John McGarry, president and CEO of Horizon Health Network. "This investment will provide our physicians and staff with the equipment they need to improve specialized patient care in this community."

"I am pleased that the Department of Health was able to provide $3.3 million for this project, which is part of the provincial government's efforts to install new MRIs at six regional hospitals," said Health Minister Hugh Flemming. "This state-of-the-art 1.5 T MRI will benefit all patients who require MRI services at the Miramichi Regional Hospital."

The project is part of a $16.4-million plan to install MRI machines at the Saint John Regional Hospital, the Moncton Hospital, the Edmundston Regional Hospital, the Miramichi Regional Hospital, the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst, N.B. and the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, N.B.

"These strategic infrastructure investments allow for key services to be delivered to improve our health-care system in each region and enhance quality of life for New Brunswickers," said New Brunswick transportation and infrastructure minister Claude Williams.

Ground recently broke on a $125 million new building modernization and expansion project at Mount Sinai Queens in New York City.

An extensive planning process was conducted for the new building, involving local leaders, community groups and elected officials.

"With state-of-the-art operating rooms, an expanded emergency department, a full array of medical offices, on-site outpatient imaging, and new elevators that will allow for the better flow of patients and staff, the new Mount Sinai Queens will allow us to address the shift to outpatient care and improve the overall health of our community," said Caryn A. Schwab, executive director of Mount Sinai Queens.

The new building will feature an enlarged emergency department, to be named in recognition of a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The state-of-the art ER will feature a new imaging suite, 36 patient bays and eight observation beds. It will also feature an off-street "drive-through" ambulance bay to lessen the presence of ambulances outside the hospital.

The building will have seven new operating rooms equipped with the latest technology, alongside holding, recovery and waiting rooms. This will bring the hospital's total number of OR suites to 10.

Outpatient services will be expanded, with new primary care physicians and specialists offering an integrated, multispecialty medical practice. Integrated laboratory services will allow doctors to view blood test results before seeing patients.

The new building will also feature new boilers, chillers and emergency generators to provide for the entire campus. Changes are also being made to the existing building, with the addition of central air to all patient rooms, installation of new windows, and new cladding being applied to the existing facade to match the new building's exterior.

The rebuilding process began in August and is expected to finish in 2016. NK Architects and Davis Brody Bond are the architects and Skanska USA the builder. The expansion project is expected to add $166 million to the local economy and generate at least 460 construction-related jobs and 340 additional jobs.

(Rendering courtesy Climans Green Liang Architects Inc.) 

A new facility for Alzheimer's care has opened in North York, Ont. The centre will bring together southern Ontario businesses, researchers and not-for-profit organizations to develop new technologies for Alzheimer's care.

"This Centre is now ready to put the innovative thinking of our region's businesses to work for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, as well as their caregivers," said Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Through FedDev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative, a $5.368-milliom contribution was made to B'nai Brith to create the Alzheimer's Centre of Excellence. Inside the centre, an innovative laboratory will further the development and testing of new technologies, products and services associated with Alzheimer's.

The Centre is part of the B'nai Brith Alzheimer's home, a state-of-the-art care facility, which is managed in partnership with the International Centre for Health Innovation of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University.

"There is a significant need for new and innovative technologies, products, and services related to the care of people with Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Anne Snowdon, Chair, International Centre for Health Innovation. "The work at the Centre of Excellence will bring these innovations to the world's doorstep and improve the quality of life for patients and their families."

Reliable Controls was recently honoured with the Capital Regional District's (CRD) EcoStar Community Environmental Award for its work in integrated watershed management.

The CRD is the regional government for the 13 municipal areas on the tip of Vancouver Island, including the city of Victoria. The CRD's EcoStar Community Environmental Awards recognize achievements and contributions by local businesses, groups and individuals in enhancing the environment. Nine awards were handed out in the six categories.

Reliable Controls was recognized for its head office, which is targeting LEED Platinum certification. Before the redevelopment the site's storm water drained through the municipal storm drain system without treatment. As a result of the new construction, more than 90 per cent of the precipitation is captured and reused for irrigation and flushing toilets, as well as for managing pollution loads and diverting runoff.

Recipients of the EcoStar Community Environmental Awards also included the Mayne Island Conservancy Society, Monk Office and Big Wheel Burger.

Fraser Health recently announced the successful candidates for the construction of new care facilities for the Tri-Cities and Surrey areas in B.C.
These communities were identified as needing increased capacity due to the rapid population growth, especially of seniors in the region. The projects will increase Fraser Health's capacity by 427 beds, comprised of 403 residential complex care beds and 24 mental health and substance use beds.

"We expect the population of the region to grow by 20 per cent by the year 2020, most of which will be seniors aged 75 and older," said Keith McBain, Executive Director for Residential Care and Assisted Living at Fraser Health. "This initiative is intended to increase capacity and play an important role in reducing congestion within Fraser Health's acute care sites."

The projects are:

• Foyer Maillar, Coquitlam
• Evergreen Bapist, White Rock
• Elim Housing Society, Surrey
• Baltic Properties, Port Coquitlam

These facilities will allow residents to move through the system faster and more efficiently, removing pressure from the region's acute care hospitals. They will also add additional services to treat adults that have serious and persistent mental health issues.