Relief is on the horizon for the lengthy delays caused by hospital renovations and expansion. Frustrated by downtime, lengthening waiting lists and the negative impact on patients, some hospitals are looking for alternatives to fulfill their needs faster with minimal disruption to their daily operation.
Take Brockville General, for instance. The need for an MRI suite was obvious. Up until early 2024, patients needing a scan were forced to travel to either Kingston or Smiths Falls, almost an hour’s drive away. The hospital needed construction completed quickly so they could begin scanning a growing waiting list of patients.
One innovative opportunity stood out. Instead of using traditional construction methods, SDI Canada could build Brockville General’s MRI suite off-site in a controlled, sterile environment and deliver it to the hospital where the site would be prepped and ready for its installation. The facility could be built faster, the project would be less expensive, and there would be less disruption for the hospital in general.
In March 2024, two super-loads of modular Cassette ® MRI scanning room were carefully transported from a factory in north GTA to Brockville. After a journey that took 7 days, the prefabricated buildings—each weighing 110,000 lbs—were lifted by crane and placed like puzzle pieces in their new location.
Brockville General Hospital is now training hospital personnel and patients are already scheduling appointments. It is expected that the hospital will begin scanning patients within 14 months of contract signature, a goal which would not have been achievable had this been built using regular construction.
Toufic Abiad, President and Founder of SDI Canada explains that the latest innovation in medical infrastructure plays off several variables traditionally known as the ‘construction triangle.’
“Now we can deliver something at a controlled and lesser cost, with a higher quality, and it’s going to be ready faster,” he says. “We’ve broken the famous construction triangle. Cost vs quality vs time”
The initial project at Brockville was slated to take around two and a half years to complete using traditional construction methods. SDI Canada delivered the prefabricated Cassette ® modules in one year. “This year of extra scanning will help save countless lives by pushing forward their diagnosis and allowing earlier treatment for more patients,” Abiad stresses. “Not only does this mean more people are being treated, but the resultant waiting lists are shortened as the pressure on hospitals is reduced.”
The reduction in wait times means relief not only for Brockville General, but also for the hospitals in Kingston and Smiths Falls.
“It improves a hospital’s efficiency and ability to provide for the community. Everyone’s a winner.”
Innovation of How
“We’ve learned from the innovation of things, but it’s time to recognize the innovation of how,” says Abiad. “The point is not to take a hospital hostage through construction, the point is to deliver care. ‘How’ we’re doing this has a huge impact.”
For hospitals with room to spare on-site, prefabricated Cassettes® are a common-sense and easy-to-initiate solution.
The two prefabricated modular cassette structures making up Brockville’s MRI suite were the first in Ontario and come with impressive credentials. The Cassette® structure is designed and engineered and complies with Institutional Type II-B and Seismic “D” requirements. The Cassette® structure can withstand 150 MPH hurricane force winds, heavy snow loads and influences known to create imaging artifacts. It also meets strict criteria requirements for medical equipment installation and operation, can be installed either vertically or horizontally, and be used as an extension of existing facilities or as a standalone unit. Prefabricated Cassettes® comply with building codes, are fully CSA Certified as CSA A277 building, and additionally are post disaster, CWB Certified.
The Cassette® prefabricated building solutions meet a variety of needs for healthcare facilities and can be used for MRI, CT, PET/CT, critical, primary and respiratory isolation units. It is completely customizable to the hospital’s needs and can even serve non-critical applications.
The standard size for a Cassette® is 16 x 60 x 12 ft / unit and can be added on to as needed. A variety of finishes are offered, from standard stucco, partial or full brick wall, curtain wall or metal siding. Depending on the parameters of the project, estimated time for delivery is between 12 to 18 months.
Now Manufacturing in Canada
Understanding the strength in partnerships, SDI Canada has partnered with PDC, a US company specializing in prefabricated buildings, to be their exclusive Canadian distributor and their licensed manufacturer for Cassettes in Canada. SDI Canada has always been committed to local content and as of 2024 will be manufacturing Cassettes in Canada.
Canadian regulations vs the work volume vs the intricacies of working with publicly funded hospitals deterred off American suppliers; by handling these aspects and providing substantial volumes, SDI has become the reference for healthcare infrastructure providers wanting to service the Canadian eco-system. “My idea was to combine many projects and act as the manufacturer’s bridge to Canada. That’s what we did with the Cassettes,” Abiad says. “I also wanted an agreement to say that if volume reaches a certain level, I can manufacture in Canada. Now, we’ve reached that level.”
Founded in 2003, SDI Canada is the Canadian leader in the implementation of MRI and biomedical equipment, the design and construction of medical infrastructures and the distribution of specialized accessories. To learn more, visit www.sdicanada.ca or email info@sdicanada.ca.
