A review of CT scans read by a radiologist in Drumheller will take some time said Alberta Health Services (AHS) president and CEO.
News of an error in a X-ray, followed by a review of six weeks of diagnostic tests originally read by a physician in Drumheller, identified 34 CT scans with interpretive errors, has spawned a review of CT scans done at the hospital over the last six months.
“It will be about 1,300 CT scans and we believe that process will take most of January to complete … to give you an idea, a radiologist will interpret about 50 CT scans a day,” said Dr. Chris Eagle, AHS president and CEO.
He said transparency is paramount to the AHS.
“We are committed to transparency and immediate disclosure and action any time concerns are raised about quality of care,” said Dr. Eagle. “Our physician leaders are taking the right and responsible action – acknowledge when an error has occurred, investigate immediately and keep patients informed as soon as we have information about their care.”
Moving forward, Minister of Health and Wellness Fred Horne announced examination of imaging and pathology testing in Alberta.
“It is government, in particular the Minister of Health and Wellness, who is accountable to all Albertans for the quality of services that are delivered in our health care system and for patient safety overall… the government has to look at things proactively and on a province wide basis. That is why I have made the decision to order a system wide examination of medical quality assurance as it relates to pathology testing and diagnostic imaging testing in Alberta.”
Dr. Eagle says any patient who has had diagnostic imaging done in the past six months in the Drumheller area can call 1-866-301-2668 for more information.
