The Saskatchewan Health Authority is expanding point-of-care testing to emergency departments in Kipling, Rosthern, Assiniboia and Esterhazy. This comes after the SHA recently extended point-of-care testing in Herbert, Shellbrook and Watrous.

The expansion of point-of-care testing into rural communities allows patients to be tested closer to home. Point-of-care testing results for critical diagnostics are delivered to physicians for assessment in under 30 minutes.

Point-of-care testing can be used to conduct several tests, including hemoglobin to evaluate anemia and blood loss, white blood cell counts, urinalysis, and cardiac markers to evaluate heart health.

According to the SHA, point-of-care testing has prevented 214 potential service disruptions since it was introduced in 2023.

Point-of-care testing will begin in Kipling at the beginning of December. Other communities will be notified when it opens in their area.