New permanent MRI at Upper River Valley Hospital to double patient capacity, expand access across region

Arrival of year-round MRI service to region ends 16-year reliance on shared mobile unit 

(WATERVILLE) – Patients in the Upper River Valley region now have year-round access to one of medicine’s most powerful diagnostic tools, as a permanent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at Horizon Health Network’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH) is now fully operational. 

This marks the end of a 16-year arrangement in which URVH shared a portable MRI unit with Vitalité’s Campbellton Regional Hospital, a setup that limited access to only part of each month with residents travelling to Fredericton or elsewhere for certain specialized scans.  

Today, an official grand opening event brought together representatives from Horizon, the Upper River Valley Hospital Foundation, as well as community leaders and partners to celebrate a milestone many years in the making. 

The project was largely driven by the extraordinary community fundraising efforts led by the Upper River Valley Hospital Foundation, which saw $3 million earmarked to fund both the MRI unit and its purpose-built housing.  

“On behalf of the Board, we are extremely appreciative of the incredible generosity demonstrated by our donors, community supporters and health care partners,” said Andrew Lenehan, Co-Chair of the Upper River Valley Hospital Foundation. “This equipment purchase represents the successful completion of our first major fundraising campaign and is a vital addition that will help local residents for many years to come. We are genuinely proud to live in a community that recognizes the importance of improvements to health service delivery and a deep willingness to help others access care locally.” 

The new 1.5-Tesla Siemens Healthineers MRI system, housed in an innovative prefabricated facility that is the first of its kind in New Brunswick, will more than double the hospital’s MRI capacity from approximately 1,700 scans per year to an estimated 3,400.  

Unlike CT scanners, which use X-rays to produce cross-sectional images, or ultrasounds, which rely on sound waves, MRI machines use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed, high-resolution images of soft tissue, organs, joints and the brain, without radiation exposure.  

MRI is an essential tool for diagnosing a wide range of conditions, including neurological disorders, spinal injuries and cancer.  

“This new MRI machine is a significant addition for our hospital, and we’re very grateful to the foundation and local community for helping achieve this,” said Jeff Carter, VP Quality, Patient Experience and Professional Services. “This really represents a New Brunswick-focused solution as we collaborate to provide improved access to all New Brunswickers. By giving residents a permanent diagnostic machine, we’re not only increasing access for them, but also those in surrounding communities and reducing their need to travel.”  

The unit, weighing 110,000 pounds, was delivered by a super-load transport truck from Quebec before being craned into place beside URVH’s existing medical imaging department in November. 

The introduction of permanent MRI services at URVH aligns with Horizon’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan pillar of delivering excellence in hospital care, and ensuring patients have access to the care they need, when and where they need it. 

“I am proud to see this state-of-the-art MRI machine at Upper River Valley Hospital, enhancing access to vital diagnostics not just for residents of the Upper River Valley area, but also for those in surrounding communities,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “This investment reduces travel for specialized exams and highlights the collaborative efforts of our health system, community, and donors to improve care for New Brunswickers.” 

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