New CT Scanner Added to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department

Queen Elizabeth Hospital is installing a new CT scanner in its emergency department to improve patient care in Prince Edward Island.

The addition is intended to cut down wait times for critical imaging. By providing the emergency department with its own dedicated equipment, the hospital reduces the demand on the only other existing scanner on the island ^[1].

Currently, the reliance on a single piece of equipment creates bottlenecks for patients requiring urgent diagnostics. The new installation allows emergency staff to process scans more efficiently without competing for time slots with non-emergency patients.

Medical imaging is a cornerstone of emergency triage, particularly for stroke and trauma cases. Having a scanner located directly within the emergency department removes the need to transport unstable patients to different areas of the facility, a move that can save vital minutes during acute medical crises.

The project follows efforts to modernize the hospital's infrastructure. The increase in capacity is expected to alleviate pressure on staff and provide faster results for patients awaiting diagnosis in the emergency ward.

This expansion addresses a long-standing gap in the province's healthcare delivery. With only one other scanner available on the island ^[1], any mechanical failure or high volume of patients previously led to significant delays in care.