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TriState Health received $2.5 million in federal funding for its Patient Imaging Project, which consists of two new CT scanning machines and one new MRI machine. This project will serve the three-state, eight county community with increased access to Imaging Services and faster diagnosis for patients. The TriState Patient Imaging project will bring state of the art diagnostic imaging technology to the community and is expected to serve patients starting in fall of 2023.

Both CT and MRI Imaging play a vital role in the early detection and prevention of ailments such as stroke, cancer, and chronic conditions. The hospital is seeing an increase in CT scanning needs from its patient volume necessitating a second scanner. The number of CT scans performed in 2019 was 6,287, with a projected 8,840 scans performed in 2022. With a new, fully functioning CT program in place, Tri-State can increase the number of scans performed to over 300 within a week (increase of 76%), resulting in a faster turnaround for patient diagnostics and treatment plans and meeting the community need.

The TriState patient mix coupled with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a need for federal funding, to complete a medical imaging project to bring better health outcomes to the rural community. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers submitted this project as one of her 15 community project priorities during the Appropriations process. The project was ultimately included in the final FY23 Omnibus funding bill.

TriState also received 37 community letters of support. The request of $2.5 million represents 48% of the total project cost of $5.2 million that will complete the project. Having CT and MRI scanning capacity to meet patient demand will result in better patient health outcomes, faster diagnosis, and enhanced treatment options for patients in the TriState Health service area.