Share onWe’re learning from findings of a recent trial that use of rapid, on-site testing at long-term care homes in Canada could prevent 8,000 emergency department visits every year. After witnessing the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on long term care residents and facilities, the trial’s co-principal investigator said researchers wanted to explore whether point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses could mitigate outbreaks among residents or reduce emergency department visits. Baycrest here in Toronto was among the facilities that used the on-site equipment and staff apparently learned to use it quickly without significantly changing their workload. The trial saw an 11 percent reduction in emergency department transfers for respiratory infections, equivalent to about four fewer transfers per 100 beds. Scaled up, that would translate to roughly 8,000 fewer transfers across Canada between November and March each year if the testing were adopted more broadly.