Point of Care Testing Helps Stabilize Wynyard Emergency Department

Story
Acute Care
Rural Health
Southeast
Wynyard
Trained hospital staff use new lab equipment to conduct point of care lab tests at Wynyard Hospital.
Wynyard is the most recent community to roll-out the point of care testing (POCT) pilot program.  The addition of the POCT program has already helped avoid at least three potential disruptions to emergency room services to date.

The introduction of Point of Care Testing (POCT) to Wynyard Hospital is helping to stabilize emergency department (ED) services. Wynyard Hospital, alongside Maple Creek and Leader, serves as one of the three pilot sites for POCT. Its implementation has proven impactful, effectively preventing disruptions to the ED.

 

POCT equipment allows trained staff to conduct tests in emergencies when regular lab services are unavailable. Health-care providers preform tests at the patient's bedside or in the hospital and receive results in less than 30 minutes. This helps doctors and care providers make quick decisions.

 

“We are grateful to be part of this pilot project and have already witnessed its impact,” said Melanie Olynick, Acute Care Director, Saskatchewan Health Authority. ” We have been able to avoid a disruption to the emergency department at Wynyard Hospital on at least three occasions already by utilizing POCT.”

 

Wynyard Hospital will have three new pieces of equipment. During emergencies, staff will be able to run important tests like hemoglobin, white blood cell counts, and troponin (cardiac) tests.

 

"Our health-care teams are committed to giving the best care to our patients," said Jacquie Holzmann, Executive Director, Primary Health Care Southeast. “They are embracing this new initiative with determination and a shared commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients."