Offended by the comments made by the management of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS on radiology equipment, four radiologists signed an open letter to inform the population of the conditions they observe every day.
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“I find the response from CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS extremely disappointing and malicious, stating that the computer system is now stabilized. I have to make some corrections, the situation is not nearly as stable as claimed,” wrote radiologist Dr. Marie-Claude Lefebvre, supported by her colleagues Dr. Lucie Brazeau-Lamontagne, Dr. Louis Olivier Bouchard and Dr. Maxime St-Amand.
On Tuesday, radiologist Dr. Yves Patenaude publicly announced the failure of the archaic computer system and the obsolescence of medical imaging equipment (MRI) at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS.
Management responded and said corrective action had been taken and the computer system was up to date and efficient.
“Okay, we can read the exams again, but the system is still inoperable with multiple shutdowns of all kinds, with a list of overdue exams and what that means for the patients,” the four radiologists continued in their letter.
They say solutions have been “repeatedly” proposed to management teams, to no avail.
“Too often, decisions are made in an office with administrative considerations, far removed from the reality of field workers and patients,” he said.
However, the MRI machines, classified as safe and reliable by the Director of Information Resources and Technology of the CIUSSS, Philippe Préville, do not allow images of adequate quality for diagnosis in several types of examinations, they pounded, and this “despite the incredible efforts of the technical team, to improve the pictures”.
‘Technology is evolving and to the chagrin of patients, the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS 2005 got stuck,’ the radiologists concluded.
The management of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS chose not to comment on the letter signed by four of its radiologists. The situation will be addressed at a meeting with them scheduled for next week.
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