Does it make sense to keep a hospital's catheter laboratory open on the weekends? A Canadian study seems to think so. The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, concluded that earlier coronary interventions saved an average of $2,359 per patient (in U.S. dollars) when compared to patients whose intervention was delayed. Cost savings were mainly linked to shorter lengths of hospital stays, about $2,255. If the outcomes are similar for U.S. patients, the relative cost savings are likely much higher, since Canadian's single-payer system treats patients for far less than south of the border. Study abstract