The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) operates a mobile MRI trailer as a provincial asset through the Provincial Medical Imaging Office (PMIO).
These units are designed to ensure continuous patient care during hospital renovations, equipment upgrades, or unexpected downtimes across British Columbia.Provincial Health Services Authority
In response to the demands of today's health care challenges, the Provincial Medical Imaging Office (PMIO) was established to improve the planning, coordination, and delivery of medical imaging services across the province of British Columbia. The PMIO will facilitate system-wide changes in partnership with B.C. health authorities to build a more sustainable, equitable and integrated medical imaging system that improves access and patient care.
- Flexibility: Deployable to locations undergoing refurbishment, replacement, or experiencing an extended downtime.
- Accessibility: Brings advanced imaging capabilities to remote or rural areas without the need for patients to travel long distances. Provides a continuation of MRI/CT services at the deployed site during their planned or unplanned downtime.
- Rapid Deployment: Preparation and setup quickly obtained to maintain imaging services.
- Disaster Response: Quickly mobilized to provide imaging services in areas affected by natural disasters.
Service Capabilities:
- Capacity: Each mobile MRI unit can perform up to 3,265 exams annually.
- Accessibility: The units bring advanced diagnostic imaging to remote or rural areas, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances (such as by ferry from Sechelt).
Deployment Conditions: Hospitals can reserve the trailer for four to six months, typically requiring a six-month advance booking.
The health authority says the unit does not initiate regular visits to rural communities however, the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) mobile MRI unit is a provincial asset designed to travel to any hospital across British Columbia, including those in Northern B.C., to support them during equipment upgrades or downtimes.
If you are looking for mobile diagnostics currently active in Northern B.C., you might also be interested in:
- Regional Mobile Ultrasound Program: Launched specifically for Northern B.C., this program brings ultrasound and echocardiography services directly to various northern communities to close gaps in local care.
- Mobile Mammography: Digital mammography coaches frequently visit northern towns and Indigenous communities. You can check the current Northern B.C. schedule on the BC Cancer website.
Mobile Medical Unit (MMU): While not strictly for MRI (CT Scan etc.), this "hospital on wheels" can be deployed to northern regions for emergency response or clinical outreach.
Requests are to be made six months in advance unless there is a unique equipment failure that represents a downtime of more than one month.
Requests for the trailer made through the online request form are time/date stamped, and honoured as first come, first served. The Mobile MRI trailer can be reserved for four to six months.
For more information or questions, visit: Provincial Health Services Authority
-with files from PHSA & F.N. Dep-Mayor Lorraine Gerwing.
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