Point Of Care Testing

When teaching the patient, timing is crucial. I plan about 30 minutes for this teaching lesson because it allows more time for patient to learn new the information. First, I will demonstrate how the machine works and how to apply blood on the test strip while I maintained aseptic technique. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) by persons with diabetes is an integral part of intensive glycemic treatment and is widely believed to improve the control of blood glucose levels and health outcomes. For some meter machine, the accuracy can be affected by interfering substances (medication), temperature, hematocrit level, and user technique. In addition, the accuracy of blood glucose meters

This should matter to patients, because it allows for an accurate, reliable, quality, and timeliness of their test results. Patients should feel safe enough in any laboratory room or facility when they go and get blood work done, or have to urinate in a cup, or if they have a sample sent

Patient care technicians (PCT’s), formally known as nursing assistants, are the backbone to any nursing department. They create rapport with the patients and family members, as well as the nursing and medical staff. Some of the tasks PCT’s are responsible for include: obtaining and recording vital signs, collecting and labeling specimens, blood glucose specimen, and obtaining electrocardiograms (ECG). All these tasks are important and critical in an emergency. PCT’s designated to work in medical surgical floors may not remember the steps for obtaining a good ECG reading. Like the saying goes: if you don’t use it, you lose it. The most common reason ECG’s are misinterpreted is due to incorrect lead placement. PCT’s in critical settings such

Now that I remain in the CLT program, it has actually opened my eyes to a complete different world of operating in the medical laboratory field. Having that chance to be more involved with the breakdown of the process of the clinical laboratory studies is astounding. I ‘am pleased to have prepared myself to travel beyond with a little in order to succeed with wealth of

That growth is likely to continue, driven by changes in healthcare delivery which are aimed at delivering less costly care closer to the patient’s home. In the developing world there is the challenge of more effective care for infectious diseases and PoCT may play a much greater role here in the future. PoCT technologies can be dividing into two categories: the first is small handheld devices, providing qualitative or quantitative determination of an increasing range of analytes. The technologies here are glucose biosensor strips and lateral flow strips using immobilised antibodies to determine a range of parameters including cardiac markers and infectious pathogens. The second categories of devices are larger, often bench-top devices which are essentially laboratory instruments which have been reduced in both size and complexity. These include critical care analysers and, more recently, small haematology and immunology analysers.

o Monitor central venous pressure, oxygen, glucose, electrolytes, lactate, renal function, urine output o Fluid resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, broad-spectrum antibiotic

These include, but are not limited to, taking patient vitals manually and electronically (blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate, temperature, high and weight). I have experience in performing pregnancy tests, glucose tests, Strep tests, Flu tests as well as collecting and testing urine and feces. I have also had the practice of patient safety as well as safety for myself and my co-workers. I learned the importance of proper documentation and how it is crucial to a practice.

The SCHC addressed meaningful use by recording patient demographics, maintaining an active medication lists and incorporating clinical lab test results into the HER, as apart of their meaningful use objectives. For recording patient demographics, they maintained data for accurate billing and ensured that the practice workflow was adjusted to capture all of the necessary patient data. They addressed active medication lists by following the requirements for e-prescribing. Patients were able to review their active medication list during their visit. Changes to the medication list were reviewed with the nurse and adjusted within the EHR system by the doctor. They communicated information for the care coordination process by making test results efficient and safe to access. Physicians were able to make real time decisions when they receive the test results from LabCorp, Quest, and other health

The IC department performs about 20 reviews a quarter utilizing the Bloodstream surveillance checklist tool to monitor for PICC/Central Line compliance. Hand sanitizer rewards are now being given to staff that has 100% in the process measure to increase CLABSI compliance. Our facility is engaged in the Hospital Improvement and Innovative Network (HIIN) formerly the Maryland-Virginia HAI Improvement Network is the hospital-wide collaborative to reduce CLABSIs. This 5-year initiative is an affiliation of the Medicare Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland and Virginia, through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The initiative offers support efforts to improve health care quality and achieve

Our group interviewed Dr. Aissa Nicole Villarreal, Pharm.D., R.Ph, a pharmacist employed at Sam’s Club in McAllen, Texas. Although the pharmacy that she is employed at does not offer Point-of-Care Testing, we were able to gather insight as to what the service would offer and why it should be implemented in Sam’s Club pharmacies within the South Texas area. Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) is a medical diagnostic test that is conducted outside of a traditional lab. It is designed to provide more convenient diagnostic results for the patient in terms of location and time. It can be used to test for multiple conditions such as strep throat and influenza. Different methods of administering the tests include throat and nasal swab.

This system has proven success in working with hospitals of this size. The hospital already utilizes many pieces of patient equipment which have platforms which interface easily with the Cerner®. This will allow the nursing, pharmacy, physician and respiratory care staff to pull patient care data from the devices into the on line documentation forms. Cerner® is certified for meaningful use.

The College of American Pathologists or CAP is the accrediting organization for laboratory and testing personnel. CAP’s “accreditation process is so thorough, the Joint Commission [and CMS] accepts …their standards” in place of conducting their own survey of the hospital’s laboratory and personnel (Gartee, 2011, p. 47). This is because of the guidelines they follow to maintain their integrity and to remain the industry standard. In recent years, the “CAP [has] developed new check list” for continued improvements. Additionally, they are continuing to vet the requirements for the new next-generation sequencing or NGC-based test that is speeding laboratory procedures. So much so that the recent adoption of the new technology for clinical testing” was done prior to the new standards being approved (Aziz, et.al. 2015, p. 481).

Gloves snapping, needles pricking, and blood gushing are often thought of when it is time to have one’s blood tested for various reasons. With a patient’s anxiety already running high, the slightest mishap can have a serious aftermath. If the venipuncture was painful or left horrible bruises, the patient may think of the procedure negatively in the future. More importantly, it is the Phlebotomist’s responsibility to obtain quality blood specimens to produce the most accurate laboratory results. (Garza, 2010) The School of Allied Health states, “It is widely accepted that the quality of a laboratory test is only as good as the specimen that was obtained.” (Allied Health, 2014) For this reason, a Phlebotomist

The major issue in the case “Becton Dickinson and needle sticks’ is the brand of syringes hospitals are using. These

In observation, (Fahnestock, McComb, & Deshmukh, 2013) stated "Information technologies are transforming the way healthcare is delivered. Innovations such as computer-based patient records, hospital information systems, computer-based decision support tools, community health information networks and new ways of distributing health information.” (p.3.2). In the sector of delivering healthcare using technology, has made it easier for healthcare professionals to access medical records, digitization of prescriptions and view test results. With the use of high-performance devices being used in the hospital, helps to make the jobs of healthcare professionals a little easier. As well as relieve anxiety from anxious patients that may be awaiting lab results to come back. Therefore, IT devices and services has been and continues to be a tremendous help and game changer for the healthcare system. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to help shape and reform the healthcare