Frank Carter's Gift Speeds AI MRI and Enhances Emergency Airway Care at Comox Valley Hospital

Community Gift Accelerates Diagnostics and Strengthens Airway Care at Comox Valley Hospital

Thanks to the generosity and vision of community donor Frank Carter, patients in the Comox Valley now access faster MRI scans and safer airway management-without leaving the region. Two key additions are in place: an AI-assisted MRI system and an Enhanced Glidescope video laryngoscopy platform. The impact is clear: quicker answers, better images, and more confident emergency care.

AI-Assisted MRI: Faster Scans, Clearer Images, Stronger Throughput

The hospital's MRI now runs with AI-driven reconstruction software (Deep Resolve), delivering up to a 40% reduction in scan time while enhancing image quality. Scans that used to take 15-30 minutes can often be completed in 5-10 minutes. That shortens waitlists, reduces motion artifacts, and improves comfort-especially for anxious or claustrophobic patients.

Clinical operations are feeling the difference. With shorter slots, schedulers can move patients through sooner, technologists spend less time managing motion, and radiologists receive higher quality images for interpretation. Fewer patients require sedatives, and more scans are completed on schedule.

• Higher throughput with shorter time slots and fewer repeats
• Improved patient experience and reduced need for sedation
• Sharper images that support confident reads and timely reporting

For general background on MRI, see ACR/RSNA's patient resource: RadiologyInfo: MRI.

Enhanced Glidescope: Precision Airway Visualization in Emergencies

The Emergency Department has added an Enhanced Glidescope system providing high-definition visualization for both video laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy on a larger display. Dual-view capabilities support accurate, timely airway management in complex or rapidly changing situations.

Respiratory therapy and emergency teams report higher confidence managing difficult airways with improved visualization and shared team awareness at the bedside. This aligns with modern difficult airway practices that emphasize video-assisted techniques for safety and efficiency. For reference, see the Difficult Airway Society guidelines.

What This Means for Care Teams

• Scheduling: Convert longer MRI slots to shorter blocks to reduce backlog while protecting time for complex protocols.
• Sedation: Review pre-scan workflows for anxious patients; shorter scans often reduce sedative use and monitoring needs.
• Quality: Track repeat rates and motion artifacts; expect measurable improvement with AI reconstruction.
• Training: Ensure technologists and radiologists align on AI reconstruction parameters and reporting notes.
• Airway Protocols: Update RSI and difficult airway algorithms to specify video laryngoscopy first-line where appropriate; standardize screen positioning and team roles.
• Data and Safety: Incorporate device use metrics and first-pass success rates into QA dashboards.

Community Impact and Leadership

Comox Valley Hospital is advancing care with modern imaging and airway tools across the Island Health region. This progress reflects a strong partnership between clinicians, the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation, and the community-especially Frank Carter, whose support is improving outcomes today and setting a high bar for the future.

As Foundation leadership has noted, investments like these benefit every patient who walks through the doors-now and for years to come. They also boost morale by equipping teams with the tools they need to deliver their best work.

Further Reading and Upskilling

• Build team literacy on clinical AI and workflow adoption with curated learning by role: Complete AI Training: Courses by Job