If you live in Innisfil, there’s an MRI machine coming to clinic near you. The latest Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner is being installed at the Rizzardo Health and Wellness Centre in partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) and support from the community and RVH Foundation Once operational, the new MRI will allow RVH to deliver nearly 4,000 additional scans each year, helping to reduce wait times and improve access to care. RVH performs bout 24,000 MRIs annually, with demand continuing to rise as the region’s population grows and ages. “RVH is home to the largest and most advanced medical imaging department in the region, delivering more than 200,000 imaging exams each year,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO of RVH. “MRIs play a critical role across cancer, cardiology, surgery and chronic disease management. Adding a third MRI in Innisfil expands our capacity and helps ensure our region can keep pace with growing demand.” The new MRI, called a MAGNETOM Flow Elite, will be one of the first of its kind in Ontario. MRI technology uses magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body without surgery or radiation, supporting diagnosis and treatment planning across a wide range of conditions. “Expanded MRI capacity means quicker access to diagnostic imaging and improved coordination of care across multiple clinical programs,” Dr. Jeffrey Tyberg, RVH Chief of Staff and vice president of Academic & Medical Affairs. Together since 2019, RVH and its Innisfil partners have now signed an agreement with SDI Canada to purchase the prefabricated modular unit, which will attach to the existing Rizzardo Health and Wellness Centre. Site preparation is expected to begin in March 2026, with the modular unit arriving in August 2026. RVH’s target is to begin performing MRI procedures in Innisfil by November 2026. This expansion is supported by $800,000 in annual funding from the Ontario government, which will cover the operation of the MRI, including staffing. “This results in better outcomes and means people can be closer to their loved ones throughout their healthcare journey,” said MPP for Barrie–Innisfil Andrea Khanjin. “By supporting the addition of a new MRI through operational funding, we are helping to reduce wait times and expand access to diagnostic imaging.” While the province provided funding to support the operation of MRI services, hospitals are responsible for funding all major medical equipment. The purchase of both the MRI scanner and the modular unit that will house it was made entirely possible through community generosity and reflects how donor support is being put to work at RVH. “Our donors made this happen,” said Mary-Anne Frith, chairperson of the RVH Foundation Board of Directors and Keep Life Wild campaign. “Their generosity is directly improving how and when patients receive care by bringing advanced imaging to Innisfil and helping people stay close to home when they need answers.”
