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Delta Hospital is now able to conduct a special imaging test on site, a modified barium swallow, thanks to the arrival of the TIMS hardware and software system. This new service at Delta Hospital allows speech pathologists to rapidly diagnose oropharyngeal dysphagia, a condition affecting patients with Parkinson’s disease, COPD, head and neck cancer or stroke. Dysphagia is a condition which impairs the ability to swallow safely and efficiently.  The new system gives a clear image of a patient’s ability to swallow different liquids and foods, using a real-time form of x-ray called fluoroscopy.

The TIMS system was funded by Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation through a large gift from David Harris on behalf of Delta’s Harris and Burr families. “We are so grateful to the Harris and Burr families for this exceptional donation which will have significant impacts on the quality of life for patients in our community who are suffering with dysphagia,” says Lisa Hoglund, Executive Director, Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation. “We are also thankful to all the donors of the Peter C. and Elizabeth Toigo Diagnostic Services Building as this service expansion is a direct result of space made available by new expansion at Delta Hospital.”

“As Delta and surrounding communities continue to grow, it’s important that we have diagnostic services to meet the needs of people living here,” says Dr. Victoria Lee, President and CEO of Fraser Health.  “I would like to thank our community partners for providing this state-of-the-art equipment so we can bring health care closer to home.”

“Thanks to the generous funding from Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation, we were able to purchase the TIMS hardware and software platform that allows our Speech Pathologists to run real time analysis to accurately diagnose our patient’s dysphagia,” says Krista McDermott, Clinical Practice Leader, Speech Pathology Department, Delta Hospital.  “It is absolutely critical that we are able to offer a high-level of diagnostic services to our patients so they can make patient-centered choices about their dysphagia management.”