Point-of-care testing cuts emergency room stays by 47 minutes for heart patients.

Waiting in an emergency department for hours can be stressful, especially when you suspect a heart problem. A large study involving nearly 45,000 people over 61 years old found a way to speed things up safely. By using a point-of-care test that checks for heart damage markers right at the bedside, doctors could rule out heart attacks much faster than with standard lab methods. This change helped patients leave the hospital 47 minutes sooner on average. The study looked at nearly 60,000 visits across six different emergency departments. It compared this new fast testing method against the usual care, which still used a quick rule-out step but relied on a central laboratory for the final check. The results were clear: the new testing method did not cause any harm or increase the risk of heart attacks or death within 30 days. Rates of these serious events were identical in both groups. This approach offers a practical way to help older adults get answers and go home faster without compromising their safety.