The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to strengthen access to rural emergency departments through the innovative point-of-care testing program. With the point-of-care testing program, trained health-care team members conduct rapid, on-site diagnostics for urgent tests so rural emergency departments can continue delivering timely patient care when lab professionals are unavailable.

The SHA recently extended point-of-care testing in Herbert, Shellbrook and Watrous. Over the coming weeks, the SHA is expanding the program further to include emergency departments in Kipling, Rosthern, Assiniboia, and Esterhazy through targeted investments from the Government of Saskatchewan. Emergency departments in Leader, Maple Creek, Wynyard, Kamsack and Shaunavon continue to actively use point-of-care testing when needed, ensuring residents in those communities benefit from seamless access to local emergency health services.

“Expanding point-of-care testing to more emergency rooms in rural communities in Saskatchewan means more patients will receive faster diagnosis and treatment closer to home,” Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Lori Carr said. “We are thankful to all of our health care teams who are adopting this innovative approach to healthcare delivery that ensures necessary lab tests can continue to take place, ensuring improved outcomes for patients accessing emergency care.”

Since it was first introduced in 2023, point-of-care testing has supported local health-care teams in providing on-site emergency department services and as of November 24, 2025, has prevented 214 potential service disruptions. 

“Point-of-care testing acts as an interim solution to support local health-care teams and physicians in making clinical decisions in emergency situations, ensuring that patients benefit from timely access to critical testing and prompt treatment as close to home as possible,” said Bryan Witt, Vice President of Provincial Clinical and Support Services, SHA. “We are grateful to our local health-care teams who are working hard to minimize service disruptions and ensure emergency department services remain available to Saskatchewan residents.”

Point-of-care testing results for critical diagnostics are delivered to physicians for assessment in under 30 minutes. There are several tests that can be performed using point-of-care testing technology, which include but are not limited to:

• hemoglobin to evaluate anemia and blood loss;

• white blood cell counts to determine the presence of infection;

• urinalysis for assessing kidney function and detecting urinary tract infections; and,

• cardiac markers to evaluate heart health.

Laboratory services are one of several components required to keep emergency departments operational. Together with the Virtual Physician program, which provides on-demand remote physician support when on site physicians are unavailable, the point-of-care testing program is part of an overall strategy to enhance access to rural and remote emergency departments while the SHA and provincial government remain committed to recruiting staff to rural laboratories.

Point-of-care testing will be available in Kipling by the beginning of December. All other communities will continue to be notified when point-of-care testing is available in their area. 

For Chad Clements, a routine medical test before a snowmobiling trip led to an unexpected diabetes diagnosis. “It was lifechanging. I was adventurous – sledding, quadding, outdoors stuff. Now I can’t do any of it.”

Within three years, Clements needed home dialysis seven days a week for ten hours a day. Today, he receives in-hospital dialysis four hours daily, three days a week.

“Chad wasn’t aware of how uncontrolled his diabetes was because his post-dialysis glucose readings looked fine,” explained Laurelle Pachal, a Diabetes Nurse Educator with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Kidney Health Program.

Clements’ goal is a kidney transplant but high blood sugar levels jeopardized his eligibility due to the higher risk of poor post-surgical outcomes.

To help, the Regina pre-transplant team collaborated with Pachal. She provided a glucose monitor and insulin. Within three weeks, his blood sugar levels dropped significantly, nearing target range.

“Education and the real-time glucose data completely turned things around for him,” Pachal said. Clements continues to improve, frequently meeting his blood sugar targets and reducing high readings by almost 30 per cent early on.

Lowering his blood sugars reduces the chance of surgical risks which moves Clements closer to securing a spot on the transplant list. “If (Pachal) had been with me right from the start, I probably wouldn’t have spent so many years struggling to get my diabetes under control.”

For conditions like diabetes, regular screenings and risk assessments are key to staying informed and taking proactive steps toward managing your health. Make preventative care a priority – stay connected with your health-care provider through regular visits to monitor your health. 

Expectant moms and kids staying at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital will experience a fresh approach to mealtime with the introduction of Ready Set Eat, an innovative new food service approach that prioritizes patient choice, nutrition and healing.

“Involving children and families in decisions about their care creates a supportive environment for their recovery,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said.

 “Thank you to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Thistledown Foundation and all of their generous donors for enabling us to provide this innovative service that puts patients and their families first.” 

The new program is made possible thanks to $554,771 in generous one-time funding from the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, in partnership with the Thistledown Foundation.

“By working together with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Thistledown Foundation, we’re improving the hospital experience for children and families through the introduction of the Ready Set Eat program,” said Andrew Will, CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “This innovative approach to food services supports better nutrition, comfort, and recovery by making mealtime more flexible, more personal, and centered on patient’s food preferences.”

Through Ready Set Eat, meals are freshly prepared and tailored to meet local, seasonal and cultural food preferences. Meals are also delivered when patients are ready to eat rather than at fixed times, providing more flexibility. 

“Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Thistledown Foundation, and generous donors across Saskatchewan are proud to fund this incredibly innovative program,” says Troy Davies, CEO of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. “The children at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital are going through some of the toughest times in their lives. To give them the freedom to choose when and what they want to eat provides a sense of normalcy, helping our young patients feel a little more at home while they heal.” 

The introduction of Ready Set Eat is another way the SHA is responding to patient and family needs and improving the hospital experience.   

See more about the new model in this video. 

When a loved one is struggling with mental health and/or addictions, it can leave family members feeling helpless, fearful and overwhelmed.

Saskatchewan families of adults experiencing mental health and addiction challenges don’t have to face the journey alone.

The Mental Health and Addictions Adult Family Program offers education, counselling, and resources to help families gain understanding and heal while actively supporting recovery.    

“Families are often unwavering in their commitment to provide a stable, encouraging environment to support their loved one’s recovery,” said Brenda McAllister, Manager, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Adult Community Mental Health and Addictions -Saskatoon.

The Adult Family Program offers connection, shared understanding, and practical tools to help participants navigate their own unique family situations by learning to:

• Build emotional resilience;
• understand and increase awareness of mental health and substance use disorders, their interactions and treatment options;
• de-escalate crises, suicide prevention, and navigate mental health warrants;
• support recovery practice self-care;
• access and navigate mental health and addiction services;
• reduce stigma about mental illness; and
• respond to intense emotions, set boundaries, and maintain personal wellbeing while supporting loved ones. \

Family members from across the province can access the program virtually for guidance and support by calling Saskatoon’s Mental Health and Addictions Services Centralized Intake at 306-655-7777. 

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to expand its online Patient Booking System for lab appointments to book blood and urine collection, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and glucose intolerance testing online, where available. Cupar, Regina Beach, and Southey are the latest communities to have access to the Patient Booking System.

Booking opens for all three communities on November 17, with appointments available in Cupar starting November 24, in Regina Beach beginning November 26, and in Southey starting November 28.

The SHA Patient Booking System is the fastest way to book a lab appointment and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To book your appointment using the online system, you need:

If you do not see your desired appointment type or location, or if you require further assistance, call the Patient Booking System Call Centre Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (closed statutory holidays) at 1-833-727-5829. Walk-in appointments will continue to be available on a first-come, first-served basis at all testing locations.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to expand its online Patient Booking System for lab appointments to book blood and urine collection, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and glucose intolerance testing online, where available. Assiniboia and Gravelbourg are the latest communities to have access to the Patient Booking System.

Booking opened for both communities on November 12, with appointments available in Assiniboia starting November 18 and in Gravelbourg beginning November 19.

The SHA Patient Booking System is the fastest way to book a lab appointment and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To book your appointment using the online system, you need:

If you do not see your desired appointment type or location, or if you require further assistance, call thePatient Booking System Call Centre Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (closed statutory holidays) at 1-833-727-5829. Walk-in appointments will continue to be available on a first-come, first-served basis at all testing locations.

Halloween 2025 became a day of celebration, compassion and inclusion at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

The Child Life Department hosted a costume parade offering reverse trick-or-treating to younger patients with support from the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

More than 80 staff donned full costumes in various themes like Mario Kart and under-the-sea. It was an ocean of colour and laughter winding through the halls where more than 60 young patients received candy and small surprises to celebrate the day.

After the parade, the joy continued at a family party in the Child Life Zone. Donated costumes were ready for use, ensuring every child could take part.

The efforts from care teams at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital used Halloween to create a sense of belonging. By working together, employees and physicians created moments where patient-centred care-built community, and compassion led to every child feeling included in the celebration–this is the SHA’s CARES values of compassion and equity in action.

Starting Monday, Nov. 10, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has launched a new process to provide patients, families, and communities with accurate and reliable information about emergency room availability. All emergency service disruptions, regardless of their length, are now being posted publicly on the SHA website, with updates occurring daily at 4 p.m., seven days a week.

This webpage, found at saskhealthauthority.ca/servicedisruptions, lists all affected facilities alphabetically and provide direct links from the SHA Facilities & Locations directory to community-specific disruption notices.

When emergency room services are disrupted, signage will be posted at the affected facility, and Healthline 811 will have real-time information available. Patients and families are encouraged to call Healthline 811 toll-free, 24 hours a day, for advice regarding service availability or to access health guidance from Registered Nurses and other qualified health professionals.

Work is also underway to enhance this process by developing a longer-term, user-friendly public interface to support real-time updates.

In any life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately so paramedics can assess, treat, and transport the patient to the nearest available site for medical attention.