Suncor is donating more than $1.5 million to the University Hospital Foundation to help fund the purchase of a photon-counting CT scanner that will assist healthcare professionals at the University of Alberta Hospital to diagnose and care for the sickest of patients.

This new type of CT scanner represents a transformative advancement in imaging technology and is the first of its kind in Alberta and only the in Canada. It will replace a flash CT scanner nearing the end of its service life and provide high-quality diagnostic imaging for cardiac, neurology, and pediatric patients from Alberta and Western Canada.

The photon counting CT has many features that will directly benefit patients and their care teams, including:

• Five times higher image resolution allowing radiologists to visualize the finest of details
• 60 per cent lower radiation protecting patients, including children, from the risks associated with repeat scans
• Faster scan times enabling better scanning of fast-moving organs, including pediatric patients who have faster heart rates and smaller valves
• Reduced wait times providing patients and medical practitioners information faster

The new scanner will provide much more detailed information about a patient’s organs and tissues, enabling healthcare professionals to visualize details with exceptional clarity.

“We are proud to support the University Hospital Foundation in bringing advanced medical technology to Edmonton,” said Troy Little, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Suncor. “By funding this state-of-the-art technology, we are helping ensure patients and healthcare professionals have access to the tools they need for faster, more accurate diagnoses and improved care. Investing in the health and well-being of the communities where we operate is at the heart of Suncor’s commitment to making a real and positive impact on peoples’ lives.”

“The University Hospital Foundation is grateful for this generous donation from Suncor. Many amazing donors made contributions to this campaign, and Suncor’s donation closed the gap required to purchase the photon-counting CT scanner, which will undoubtedly save lives and improve outcomes for patients from around Alberta and across Western Canada,” said Dr. Jodi L. Abbott, President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation. “We are proud to bring what is only the third scanner of this kind in the country to the incredible healthcare professionals caring for patients at the University of Alberta Hospital and Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute.”

The CT scanner has been purchased and is expected to be installed at the University of Alberta Hospital and operational by next spring. The total funds raised by the University Hospital Foundation for the photon-counting CT system is $2.5 million, with the base cost of a flash CT scanner paid by Alberta Health Services.