❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks detailed information on MRI scanner usage, costs, and waiting times in public hospitals, revealing variations across different institutions.
AnsweredQoN 7823Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scanners, and I ask:
(a) how many MRI scanners are currently in use in our public hospitals;
(b) how many hours a week are the MRI scanners being used in each public hospital;
(c) what are the hours of operation in each public hospital;
(d) what is the capital cost of each machine;
(e) what is the cost of operating a MRI scanner:
(i) by month; and
(ii) by year; and
(f) what is the waiting time to get an MRI Scan?
(a) how many MRI scanners are currently in use in our public hospitals;
(b) how many hours a week are the MRI scanners being used in each public hospital;
(c) what are the hours of operation in each public hospital;
(d) what is the capital cost of each machine;
(e) what is the cost of operating a MRI scanner:
(i) by month; and
(ii) by year; and
(f) what is the waiting time to get an MRI Scan?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 July 2012
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
62 days
(a)
1 - FremantleHospital
1 - PrincessMargaretHospitalfor Children
2 - SirCharlesGairdnerHospital
2 - RoyalPerthHospital
(b)
65hrs/week - FremantleHospital
62hrs/week - PrincessMargaretHospital
120hrs/week - SirCharlesGairdnerHospital
126.5hrs/week - RoyalPerthHospital
(c)
FremantleHospital- 07:00 - 20:00 Mon-Fri
PrincessMargaretHospital- 07:00 - 20:00 Mon-Thu and 07:00 - 17:00 Fri
SirCharlesGairdnerHospital
Scanner 1 - 06:30 - 22:00 Mon-Fri
Scanner 2 - 08:30 - 17:00 Mon-Fri
RoyalPerthHospital
Scanner 1 - 07:00 - 21:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 - 15:30 Sat
Scanner 2 - 08:00 - 18:00 Mon-Fri
(d) Each machine is purchased through public tender submissions. The tendered price will typically be subject to exchange rate fluctuations and so costs are approximate only:
1.5T scanner - $1.5 million
3.0T scanner - $2.5 million
(e) Many factors influence operating cost, including staffing complement, use of intravenous contrast and hours of operation.
The principal operating cost is staff. An 'average' MRI scanner operating over extended hours may employ:
- Receptionist 1.0 - 1.5 FTE
- Nurse 0.5 - 1.0 FTE
- Technologist 3.0 FTE
- Radiologist 1.0 FTE
Estimated staff costs per year are approximately $1,070,000 and do not include after-hours services.
Maintenance contracts are typically around $160,000 - 170,000 per year per scanner.
Intravenous contrast in a typical public hospital will cost around $20,000 per year per scanner.
The total operating costs per year (incl. depreciation), therefore, is approximately $1.5 million, and does not include after-hours services or building depreciation. The monthly cost is approximately $125,000.
(f) Emergency patients are accommodated according to need and wait less than one day.
Inpatients will usually receive a scan within 1 week, depending on scan requirements (e.g. general anaesthetic, etc) and other competing requirements.
Waiting times for non-urgent outpatient scans fluctuate over time. On May 4, 2012, the following non-urgent waiting times were advised:
Fremantle Hospital 3 weeks and 6 weeks if doctor in attendance required
PrincessMargaretHospital10 months and 8 months (semi-urgent)
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital 3 months
Royal Perth Hospital 3 weeks
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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1 - FremantleHospital
1 - PrincessMargaretHospitalfor Children
2 - SirCharlesGairdnerHospital
2 - RoyalPerthHospital
(b)
65hrs/week - FremantleHospital
62hrs/week - PrincessMargaretHospital
120hrs/week - SirCharlesGairdnerHospital
126.5hrs/week - RoyalPerthHospital
(c)
FremantleHospital- 07:00 - 20:00 Mon-Fri
PrincessMargaretHospital- 07:00 - 20:00 Mon-Thu and 07:00 - 17:00 Fri
SirCharlesGairdnerHospital
Scanner 1 - 06:30 - 22:00 Mon-Fri
Scanner 2 - 08:30 - 17:00 Mon-Fri
RoyalPerthHospital
Scanner 1 - 07:00 - 21:00 Mon-Fri and 09:00 - 15:30 Sat
Scanner 2 - 08:00 - 18:00 Mon-Fri
(d) Each machine is purchased through public tender submissions. The tendered price will typically be subject to exchange rate fluctuations and so costs are approximate only:
1.5T scanner - $1.5 million
3.0T scanner - $2.5 million
(e) Many factors influence operating cost, including staffing complement, use of intravenous contrast and hours of operation.
The principal operating cost is staff. An 'average' MRI scanner operating over extended hours may employ:
- Receptionist 1.0 - 1.5 FTE
- Nurse 0.5 - 1.0 FTE
- Technologist 3.0 FTE
- Radiologist 1.0 FTE
Estimated staff costs per year are approximately $1,070,000 and do not include after-hours services.
Maintenance contracts are typically around $160,000 - 170,000 per year per scanner.
Intravenous contrast in a typical public hospital will cost around $20,000 per year per scanner.
The total operating costs per year (incl. depreciation), therefore, is approximately $1.5 million, and does not include after-hours services or building depreciation. The monthly cost is approximately $125,000.
(f) Emergency patients are accommodated according to need and wait less than one day.
Inpatients will usually receive a scan within 1 week, depending on scan requirements (e.g. general anaesthetic, etc) and other competing requirements.
Waiting times for non-urgent outpatient scans fluctuate over time. On May 4, 2012, the following non-urgent waiting times were advised:
Fremantle Hospital 3 weeks and 6 weeks if doctor in attendance required
PrincessMargaretHospital10 months and 8 months (semi-urgent)
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital 3 months
Royal Perth Hospital 3 weeks
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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