Breast Imaging Kingston now open

The first patients have now been welcomed through Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s (KHSC) new Breast Imaging Kingston (BIK) facility, a state-of-the-art 8,000 square foot complex that will serve patients from across the region.

The facility, located in Kingston’s east-end on John Marks Avenue, brings together breast imaging services and procedures from the Hotel Dieu Hospital and the former Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) sites under one roof, streamlining care for patients.

“This is really the one-stop-shop approach to care for this patient population,” says KHSC’s Director of Imaging Services, Karen Pearson. “Not only is this facility really best in class in the province, but it will provide a much more streamlined service for patients because they won’t need to travel between multiple locations for care. The facility also provides easy access to the 401 for patients travelling from outside of Kingston.”

BIK’s focus will be on individuals requiring screening and precision diagnosis of breast cancer and boasts three brand new 3D digital mammography and three brand new ultrasound units. The facility will also offer revolutionary and patient friendly MagSeed breast lesion localizations, contrast-enhanced mammography, automated breast ultrasound (ABUS), and a novel prone breast biopsy table. This combination of equipment under one roof is unique to all of Canada. BIK will also serve as a showcase site for industry partners and a training hub for physicians and technologists alike.

“We are incredibly proud to offer this one-of-a-kind Canadian facility right here in Kingston,” says President and CEO Dr. David Pichora. “We have always had the highly-skilled staff and physicians to offer such high-quality care and now we have a facility to match their skills.”

“I would also like to thank the teams across KHSC who were involved in this project, including individuals from our Diagnostic Imaging department, Radiologists, our regional Cancer Program and Planning office.”

Breast Imaging Kingston will offer breast screening as the main point of entry for the majority of patients in the region. If patients require further care, they will be scheduled for more specialized diagnostic testing at the facility. However, breast cancer surgery and breast MRI will still be performed at KHSC’s HDH and Kingston General Hospital (KGH) sites.

"On behalf of the Province and Minister of Health Christine Elliot, congratulations today to the Kingston Health Sciences Centre for the successful efforts which led to this partnership between KHSC and the Ontario Breast Screening Program," says Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Daryl Kramp. "Working together they have put this state-of-the-art screening and imaging centre on the local, provincial and national map. It will help save countless lives in the coming decades, and help advance knowledge in the field. Thank you to Dr. Omar Islam and Dr. Pichora and the many others who have contributed to this through their vision, their fundraising and their commitment to community.”

A significant portion of the funding for the $7 million facility was donated by two major local donors. Brit Smith and Homestead Landholdings Foundation contributed $8 million to be split between this project and the installation of Southeastern Ontario’s first positron emission tomography (PET) scanner to be located at the Kingston General Hospital site sometime in the future. The Rose of Hope committee and women from the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club have contributed $2.1 million to breast cancer care as part of a multi-year pledge through their annual golf-tournament.

“We are truly privileged to share a community with individuals who so generously support KHSC’s staff, physicians, patients and families,” says Dr. Pichora. “I can truly say that without the visionary leadership and support of Brit Smith, Homestead Landholdings and the Rose of Hope committee, this new facility would never have become a reality.”

Individuals who would like to learn more about Breast Imaging Kingston and watch a virtual tour can visit www.kingstonhsc.ca/bik