Vancouver Coastal Health is contacting about 1,000 patients in connection with diagnostic imaging glitches from March 18 to 21 at Richmond, Vancouver General and the University of B.C. hospitals.
Officials say a short-term computer glitch delayed results and prevented doctors from comparing test results from CT scans, MRIs and other tests with previous images stored in computer banks.
"They could see the scans - what they couldn't do is look up an old scan and compare the two," VCH spokesman Gavin Wilson told the media. "If there are any issues, they will be contacted by their doctor."
Clinicians say the actual impact on patient care and treatment as a result of the incident is expected to be minimal, but the prior images are now being reviewed to augment the report of the recently completed imaging exam.
