A state-of-the-art MRI machine has arrived at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH), marking a major milestone for healthcare in Muskoka. The delivery comes after a successful $10 million fundraising campaign led by the Huntsville Hospital Foundation (HHF).
The 8,000-pound MRI was shipped from Germany and carefully installed at the hospital on April 30. After final testing this month, the machine is expected to be fully operational by July.
Community Effort Makes It Possible
The HHF’s Focus on Imaging campaign raised funds over three years, with 2,460 donations from individuals, businesses, and community groups across Muskoka, Almaguin, and surrounding areas.
“This is a game-changer for healthcare in our region,” said Katherine Craine, CEO of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. “Thanks to our donors, we’ve turned a shared vision into reality.”
Reducing Travel, Improving Care
Once operational, the MRI will save patients an estimated 7,000 hours of travel time and 700,000 kilometres in trips to hospitals outside Muskoka. At full capacity, the machine will perform 5,000 scans per year, speeding up diagnoses and improving treatment.
“Having MRI services close to home is transformative,” said Cheryl Harrison, CEO of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare. “It means faster, more accurate diagnoses and better care for our community.”
Gratitude and Future Goals
The HHF and MAHC thanked donors, staff, and medical teams for making the MRI a reality. The Foundation continues fundraising to enhance local healthcare services for residents and visitors alike.
The new MRI is set to begin patient services this summer, bringing critical medical imaging to Muskoka for the first time.
