Wakaw Diagnostic Imaging Services a huge benefit to the area
Earlier this fall the community of Wakaw took a huge leap forward in the way it delivered safe, accessible and high quality health care to residents of the area. The Wakaw Primary Health Care Centre received a digital upgrade to diagnostic imaging equipment that will make Medical Imaging services more efficient for staff and patients.
“For a long time, we had to rely on the old, traditional method of using film to deliver these images,” said Kelly Zbaraschuk, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Manager of Medical Imaging for the Prince Albert area. “This work involved the use of film and chemicals that are becoming increasingly difficult to source not to mention the environmental impacts that they have. This new imaging equipment solves those challenges, and provides other significant benefits.” said Zbaraschuk.
In addition to quick pictures, some of the other advantages of using this new equipment include higher quality images that are directly imported into the Provincial Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), which will allow a health care provider or doctor anywhere in the province 24/7 access to any image and report; the elimination of dark room for film processing, and chemical exposure to the staff and environment; image integrity is strengthened as there will be no on-site storage for manual film; a shorter turnaround time for the report as there is no delay in getting the image to a radiologist; and, each patient will have access to a report that is electronically loaded onto their MySaskHealth Record.
“The staff in the Wakaw facility have been instrumental in making this project a success, from the maintenance team that helped get the space ready and decommission the old processor and darkroom, to the admin staff that have stepped into a new role of admitting patients, and the great staff in the Lab and X-ray area who have risen to the challenge of new technology and are truly shining.” said Zbaraschuk. “It didn’t take long and we hit the ground running as soon as the new equipment was installed in Wakaw.”
Staff doing this great work in Wakaw are those designated or trained as Combined Lab and Xray Technologists (CLXT’S).
“These positions are in high demand so we are lucky to have such dedicated and trained staff in a community like Wakaw able to deliver this new service.”
Any new graduate or student training to be a CLXT can look at many of the positions the SHA has available across the province by visiting healthcareersinsask.ca
“There are many places like Wakaw across Saskatchewan looking for CLXT’s. All of these places offer work-life balance and the SHA is a great employer. I would encourage any CLXT looking for work to view those available positions and apply today. We would love to have you.”
Wakaw lab staff, Laurel Gaudet (left) and Michelle Brockman (right), with their new imaging hardware