This new CT Scanner at Marotta Family Hospital brings next-gen imaging technology closer to home for Niagara communities.
More patients across Niagara now have access to advanced diagnostic imaging closer to home following the completion of Niagara Health's system-wide CT Replacement Project. As the first hospital in Canada to deploy a fleet of next-generation CT scanners from Canon Medical Systems across multiple sites, Niagara Health has installed new CT technology in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland.
“This project represents one of the most significant investments Niagara Health has made in medical imaging,” says Lynn Guerriero, President and CEO of Niagara Health. “Patients across Niagara now have access to leading-edge CT technology closer to home. By modernizing our imaging services across the system, we are improving access, increasing capacity and supporting faster, more informed clinical decision-making."
Four CT scanners, three sites, 12 months and 34 project team members — the scale of this project reflects the extraordinary collaboration and dedication behind its success. The new scanners provide clearer, more detailed images that support clinical decision-making, while faster exams and improved reliability help improve patient flow across the system
Since the scanners went live during phased implementation beginning last September, more than 56,000 patients have received care on our new CT systems, helping drive a 10% increase in patient scan volumes even before the project was complete.
“This modernization effort has had a meaningful impact on both clinical care and operational efficiency,” says Simon Akinsulie, Executive Vice-President, Practice, Clinical Support and Chief Nursing Executive. “It enables our teams to move patients through the imaging process more quickly, improving both access to care and the overall patient experience.”
From planning to implementation, this initiative was made possible through the combined efforts of our Medical Imaging and project teams, the resilience of frontline staff and care teams, the patience of our patients and the support of community partners and donors.
While supporting the implementation of this large-scale initiative, Niagara Health's CT team completed 13,675 more outpatient scans in 2025/26 compared to the previous year.
Patients are receiving immediate benefits of decreased wait times following the scanner replacements. Early July data suggests that semi-urgent CT wait times have decreased by 30per cent and routine (non-urgent) CT wait times have decreased by 37 per cent
Throughout installation at Marotta Family, Niagara Falls and Welland hospitals, teams ensured continuity of care by leveraging mobile CT units, working with regional partners and coordinating across sites to minimize disruptions to patients.
"Many of our previous scanners served our patients well for years but were becoming increasingly unreliable with age,” said Donna Vanleeuwen, Charge Technologist. "The difference with the new equipment is remarkable, allowing our teams to focus more on patient care and less on equipment downtime.”TCanon Medical Systems played a key role in delivering the next-generation CT technology at the centre of this transformation.
“We are proud of our partnership with Niagara Health,” said Jens Dettmann, President of Canon Medical Systems Canada. “The new Aquilion ONE / INSIGHT Edition, representing our latest generation CT, provides a better experience for patients and outstanding image quality with our AI solutions that support clinicians in providing exceptional care.”
This investment will deliver benefits for years to come. When Niagara Falls Hospital closes in 2028, the CT scanner currently installed at the site will be relocated to the Marotta Family Hospital, where it will replace an older CT scanner that supports interventional radiology services.
Looking ahead, the South Niagara Hospital will open with three next-gen Canon CT scanners, strengthening diagnostic imaging capacity and supporting timely access to advanced care across the region.
With clinical teams already trained on the new technology and a strong partnership with Canon Medical Systems in place, Niagara Health is well positioned to provide a seamless experience for patients and care providers alike.
The success of this undertaking also deeply reflects the vital support of the Niagara Health Foundation and its generous donors.
“This achievement demonstrates the incredible impact of community support,” says Andrea Scott, President and CEO of the Niagara Health Foundation. “The generosity of our donors enables Niagara Health to bring leading-edge technology to our hospitals and invest in the future of care.”
The project also reflects the contributions of Niagara Health physicians, Dr. Labh Mehta and Dr. Amit Mehta, whose combined efforts have helped advance medical imaging services in the region for more than five decades. From helping bring Niagara's first CT scanner to the region in 1984 to championing major imaging investments over the decades that followed, their leadership helped pave the way for this incredible new technology at Niagara Health.
