The Town of Shaunavon, alongside the RMs of Arlington, Grassy Creek, and Bone Creek, is pleased to announce that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has approved the implementation of Point of Care Testing (POCT) equipment at the Shaunavon Hospital. Our Councils have been actively working with SHA to address service disruptions in Shaunavon’s Emergency Department caused by temporary lab staff shortages.
The Town of Shaunavon, alongside the RMs of Arlington, Grassy Creek, and Bone Creek, is pleased to announce that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has approved the implementation of Point of Care Testing (POCT) equipment at the Shaunavon Hospital.
Our Councils have been actively working with SHA to address service disruptions in Shaunavon’s Emergency Department caused by temporary lab staff shortages. POCT will help reduce these disruptions by allowing trained staff to conduct critical tests when regular lab staff are unavailable, supplementing existing lab services and ensuring coverage when staff need time off.
This equipment enables health-care providers to perform tests at the patient’s bedside or within the hospital, delivering results in less than 30 minutes. Tests such as hemoglobin, white blood cell counts, and troponin (cardiac) levels can be conducted quickly, helping physicians and care teams make faster, informed decisions about patient care.
To support this transition, nurses at Shaunavon Hospital will receive online education and phlebotomy training provided by SHA.
We recognize that stabilizing emergency services at our hospital is essential for our community’s well-being, and we remain committed to advocating for stronger rural health care.
We thank MLA Doug Steele and the Ministry of Health for their continued support and will keep the community informed as this initiative moves forward.