The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has expanded point-of-care testing to the Assiniboia Union Hospital Integrated Facility emergency department. This initiative allows trained health-care staff to perform essential diagnostic tests on-site when laboratory professionals are unavailable.
Tests include hemoglobin for anemia, white blood cell counts for infection, urinalysis for kidney function, and cardiac markers for heart health. These tools help ensure timely clinical decisions and uninterrupted emergency services.
Since its launch in 2023, point-of-care testing has prevented 253 potential service disruptions across nine rural communities. The program is part of a broader strategy to strengthen access to emergency care in rural and remote Saskatchewan.
The SHA and the provincial government continue efforts to recruit laboratory staff for these regions.