I’m Dr. Jonathan Mandel and I’m a Radiologist and Chief of Medical Imaging here at Humber. I’ve worked at Humber River Hospital for four years, and became Chief just a few months ago.

“Our team is friendly, motivated, excited about new technology, and passionate about quality,” says Dr. Mandel.

How would you explain your job to a friend?

Our job is to take pictures of your insides in a safe way. Radiologists largely help other doctors by giving them the information they need to care for their patients, but we also use medical imaging to guide us in treating cancers and infections, with biopsies, to help surgeons stop bleeding, and more.

As Chief of Medical Imaging I see it as my job to make sure we are providing safe, excellent care for our community.

What makes you proud of our Medical Imaging program at Humber?

Our program is headed in an awesome direction. We have a great balance of people with years of experience and young people fresh out of their training. Our team is friendly, motivated, excited about new technology, and passionate about quality.

What technologies at Humber set our Medical Imaging Program apart?

I’m really into computers and technology. That’s how I got into radiology; it’s a combination of medicine and tech. At Humber we have the latest MRI technology. MRI is one of the safest, most effective ways to look at your insides and uses no radiation.

Something new we are doing at Humber is prostate MRIs. Traditionally, prostate cancer has been diagnosed through a very uncomfortable biopsy. We have partnered with the Urologists, led by Dr. Fazio, in coordinating MRIs with biopsies for more effective, less invasive prostate cancer diagnosis.

How has COVID-19 impacted the Program?

At the early parts of the pandemic, in April and May, we had to postpone many appointments to keep people safe at home.  It’s not easy choosing who should have their scans and who can wait.  I’m happy to say we’ve opened up again, and most appointments are being rebooked now.  If you had your appointment postponed, expect a phone call from our staff very soon!

What is one awesome thing you have done in the last year?

“I’m really into computers and technology. That’s how I got into radiology,” says Dr. Mandel. “At Humber we have the latest MRI technology. MRI is one of the safest, most effective ways to look at your insides and uses no radiation.”

My son Simon is 10 years old, and I was able to share one of my joys with him – computer coding! We’ve always loved playing card games and board games together with his grandparents.  But they live out of town, and he misses them. So, we’ve been that we can play together over the internet!

What inspires you?

I’m inspired whenever I see an opportunity where I can help people, especially using technology. I love it. That is a big motivator for me.

I also want to add my appreciation for all the staff in the Medical Imaging department at Humber. Thank you for the coordinated care you are providing our patients. From those of you who helped us call every patient to postpone or reschedule appointments, and to those on the frontline in the Emergency Department and ICU, I salute you all.

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The Optima’s x-ray plate slides right into the baby’s incubator, so NICU babies can have x-rays taken without having to be moved.

Humber River Hospital’s new mobile x-ray detector in combination with the GE Optima, can be brought right into NICU rooms so babies can have x-rays taken without having to be moved.

Previously, if our staff needed medical images to assess and treat our babies, they needed to be carefully transported to our second floor Medical Imaging department for x-rays or moved from the incubator onto a very large heavy detector.

“When we learned about the new detector for the Optima we thought ‘We need to get that for the NICU babies’,” says Medical Imaging Manager Dolores Dimitropoulos. “The babies can stay in their own beds with one of the wonderful NICU nurses helping to position them.”

The Optima and detector, which was purchased , can be easily positioned by our techs, is nimble enough to get into hard to reach places like a NICU room, and has a smaller x-ray detector plate which can slide right into the Giraffe Omnibed Incubator, allowing our x-ray technologists to take images faster than before.

The Optima detector also takes some of the sharpest images on the market today.

“The images have a greatly improved diagnostic quality for our radiologists and physicians,” says Dolores. “It is giving us an even better opportunity for more accurate diagnoses, while reducing the physical stress for the baby during the exam.”

The post Humber’s Portable X-Ray Machine is Letting NICU Babies Rest appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Already, the machine has allowed staff in the Medical Imaging Program to scan an additional 700 patients. In a few weeks when the evening shift begins using the machine too, the Program expects to scan 1,400 more patients from October until the end of the year using the SIGNA Artist.

The team reports that the turnaround time for inpatients needing a scan has been reduced by an average of 50% in the time that the SIGNA Artist has been in use.

The new MRI machine was purchased thanks to the incredible hard work of the Volunteer Association. The SIGNA Artist is the most versatile, adaptable, and powerful MRI technology available today. With it, the Medical Imaging team at Humber will be able to produce sharper scans, faster. That means quicker diagnosis, swifter patient flow, enhanced comfort, and reduced wait times overall.

The community has quickly come together to support the cost of the MRI Program including the renovations, software and team building required for installing the SIGNA Artist: This September, a group of cyclists called Team Revolution travelled to Italy to participate in a grueling mountain climb as well as a challenging race to raise funds, and in August, Humber River Hospital Foundation’s annual golf tournament helped raise funds for the MRI Program.

������� the SIGNA Artist:

The SIGNA Artist MRI is designed to improve patient comfort. For example:

• It features a larger opening, soft lighting and soothing fans to lessen the “claustrophobic” feeling common to some other MRI units.
• It also has a wider table laid with comfortable memory foam which is not only more comfortable for patients, but will enable easier patient positioning.
• Redesigned shoulder and knee coils offer more flexibility for our patients undergoing often-challenging joint scans, while delivering consistent, motion-free images.

Advanced Software Delivers Faster, Higher Quality Images:

Our new MRI is powered by the SIGNA Works productivity platform, an extensive set of high-quality, highly efficient imaging capabilities. It also takes advantage of Total Digital Imaging, which advances diagnostics and speeds throughput.

The revolutionary MAGiC application enables technologists to produce multiple different brain images from a single, five-minute neurological scan—one-third of the time traditionally required. This unique capability will provide enhanced clinical flexibility while making more time available for advanced imaging.

The post GE’s SIGNA Artist MRI Machine is Already Reducing Wait Times for Humber’s Patients appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Purchasing the SIGNA Artist MRI demonstrates the Volunteer Association’s leadership and commitment to our Hospital community.

Thanks to the incredible hard work of the Volunteer Association, Humber River Hospital has purchased a new MRI machine – GE Healthcare’s SIGNA Artist, allowing Humber to accommodate an additional 6,000 patients annually!

SIGNA Artist is the most versatile, adaptable, and powerful MRI technology available today. With it, the Medical Imaging team at Humber will be able to produce sharper scans, faster. That means quicker diagnosis, swifter patient flow, enhanced comfort, and reduced wait times overall.

, the average wait time for an MRI scan is 130 – 140 days in Ontario, and patient volumes have increased 30% since 2012.

This initiative is just one of many projects that demonstrates the Volunteer Association’s leadership and commitment to our Hospital community, and their strong belief in the positive impact of this project. This team continues to bring humanity, comfort, and assistance to all who need it.

The SIGNA Artist MRI features a larger opening, soft lighting, soothing fans, and a wide memory foam table.

The Volunteer Association at Humber River Hospital is leading the way with a donation of $1.3 million but we need your support to help us establish the infrastructure needed in the Hospital to properly expand and operate our MRI program well into the future. Our $2 million investment in the new MRI program will help us provide GTA patients with superior medical imaging, faster than ever before. Without it, we’re sure to see wait times rise—year after year.

Designed for Improved Patient Comfort

The SIGNA Artist MRI is designed to improve patient comfort. For example:

• It features a larger opening, soft lighting and soothing fans to lessen the “claustrophobic” feeling common to some other MRI units.
• It also has a wider table laid with comfortable memory foam which is not only more comfortable for patients, but will enable easier patient positioning.
• Redesigned shoulder and knee coils offer more flexibility for our patients undergoing often-challenging joint scans, while delivering consistent, motion-free images.

Advanced Software Delivers Faster, Higher Quality Images

Our new MRI is powered by the SIGNA Works productivity platform, an extensive set of high-quality, highly efficient imaging capabilities. It also takes advantage of Total Digital Imaging, which advances diagnostics and speeds throughput.

Advanced software enables technologists to produce multiple different brain images in 5 minutes—one-third of the time traditionally required.

The revolutionary MAGiC application enables technologists to produce multiple different brain images from a single, five-minute neurological scan—one-third of the time traditionally required. This unique capability will provide enhanced clinical flexibility while making more time available for advanced imaging.

The post Leading Edge MRI Machine Means Quicker Diagnosis and Reduced Wait Times for Humber Community appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.