Alberta expanding use of AI tech that speeds up MRIs after successful pilot
The Alberta government says the artificial intelligence technology is installed directly in MRI machines and improves image clarity while also shortening examination times.
The Alberta government and Acute Care Alberta have allocated $14 million to implement artificial intelligence (AI) technology aimed at accelerating the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) process. This decision came after a successful pilot program on 10 MRI scanners across the province from April 2025, which resulted in nearly 12,000 additional MRIs being conducted.
The Health Canada-approved technology is directly integrated into MRI machines installed in hospitals, enhancing image clarity and reducing examination times. Crucially, the AI operates independently on each MRI scanner without transmitting any patient records, imaging data, or personal information to external networks, ensuring all patient information remains safeguarded under Alberta's stringent privacy and security protocols.
Hospitals Minister Adriana LaGrange highlighted that the province achieved a record number of MRIs last year and that the investment will augment testing capacity and diminish wait times. The government anticipates the technology's nationwide deployment by 2028, which is expected to augment MRI capacity by 20 percent and deliver over 41,000 extra scans annually, according to a provincial news release on Thursday.
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