North Shore Medical Imaging set to open in downtown Squamish

Soon, Sea to Sky Corridor residents will have another option for medical imaging in Squamish.

After extensive renovations that will take several months, North Shore Medical Imaging will open at 38117 Second Ave, which is currently The Squamish Chief's office.

The organization, which is a private clinic owned by radiologists from the Sea to Sky and Sunshine Coast, has been on the North Shore for more than 40 years, with other clinic locations currently in North and West Vancouver.

With an opening date slated for February, the Squamish location will provide digital X-rays and diagnostic ultrasounds to start.

While private, patients with regular Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage will be able to get a referral from their physician, as is the usual protocol, to use the services.

There is no out-of-pocket expense to patients, in other words, as long as they are covered by MSP.

Kris Carabetta, chief operations officer at North Shore Medical Imaging, told The Squamish Chief that the incredible growth of Squamish, which boasts about 30,000 residents now, according to Statistics Canada, was the catalyst for the decision to apply to the provincial ministry of health to set up in town.

"It's been obvious to us for a while that imaging is sadly needed in the corridor, and so that's why we made the application.  We were successful, and now we're doing it," she said, adding they were approved for one X-ray and two ultrasound rooms at the clinic.

There is hope that they will be approved to expand to other services over time.

"The space that we have now allows for future expansion of services, so that would include additional ultrasound and potentially mammography," Carabetta said.

While the clinic will start with a few employees, ultimately, the goal is about seven, she said.

The radiologists who own the clinic already work within the region.

"We are owned by a group of radiologists [who are] the same ones who provide services up and down the corridor; the same ones who work at Lions Gate [Hospital], Squamish Hospital, Whistler and Sechelt ... We have the approval that we're able to provide MSP-billable services."

She noted that as things progress closer to the opening of the clinic, they will be reaching out to local doctors' offices with more information about the clinic.

Mostly, she said the owners are excited to be moving into the area and that they will hopefully be able to alleviate some of the out-of-town trips locals in the corridor have to make for essential medical imaging services.

Find out more about North Shore Medical Imaging on its website.

The Squamish Chief and H&R Block moving!

As noted, The Squamish Chief is on the move, but we aren't moving far from our current Second Avenue office.

We are moving to the previous H&R Block location at 38113 Second Ave.

H&R Block is relocating in September to Chieftain Centre to take over the closing Keir Fine Jewellery location at 1305 Pemberton Ave.

During The Squamish Chief’s move, our office will be closed from today, Thursday, Aug. 22, until after Labour Day.

(Until we reopen, please reach us by phone at 604-892-9161 or by email. For sales, email [email protected]; for news, contact [email protected] until then.)

The Squamish Chief will re-open for business at 38113 Second Avenue on Wednesday, Sept.4.