Point of Care Testing at HNL Lab Medicine
Point of Care Testing at HNL Lab Medicine: Bringing Fast, Reliable Diagnostics to the Bedside
In today’s fast-paced healthcare landscape, timely and accurate diagnostic information is key to effective patient care. The Point of Care Testing (POCT) team at HNL Lab Medicine exemplifies the ability to deliver reliable, bedside results that streamline patient diagnosis and treatment.
The dedicated professionals on this team combine technical skills with compassionate support for nursing staff and physicians, helping ensure that patients receive the best possible care. Let’s dive into the world of POCT with insights from the team members whose work impacts patient care daily.
Empowering Patient Care Through Training and Support
A vital component of POCT’s success lies in the extensive training and support that the team provides to healthcare personnel who perform tests right at the patient’s bedside. Deborah Balga, POCT Educator, emphasizes the importance of education, stating, “My primary responsibilities as an educator are to train patient care staff to perform POC testing, evaluate testing personnel for ongoing competency, and ensure quality control and regulatory standards are being met.” This intensive training ensures that nurses and other patient care staff can deliver reliable, timely test results.
Balga’s role doesn’t stop at initial training. She also develops educational courses to accompany hands-on training and competency evaluations, providing continuous learning opportunities for staff. “We often meet in person with the hospital staff for education days, group and individual training, and setting up new testing sites,” she adds, highlighting the POCT team’s hands-on approach.
Uniqueness of the POCT Department
POCT stands out within HNL Lab Medicine for its ability to provide immediate results, directly impacting treatment decisions. “Point of care testing occurs at the patient’s point of care versus in the laboratory,” Balga explains. This enables doctors and nurses to make swift decisions based on results generated in various settings, including emergency rooms, operating rooms, health clinics, and even medevac helicopters.
This agility allows for better patient outcomes, especially in critical situations. Lisa David, an Application Analyst for POCT, also emphasizes the unique procedural aspects of POCT testing. Unlike traditional lab orders, “POCT is unique in the fact that our orders are generated by the instrumentation that performs the testing,” she explains.
This eliminates the need for a traditional lab order and expedites the process of posting results to the patient’s electronic medical record. The seamless integration of technology and patient care is a defining characteristic of the POCT team’s work.
Challenges and Problem Solving at the Bedside
The POCT team requires specialized skills to navigate the unique challenges of providing accurate, bedside testing. For instance, connectivity and technical aptitude is a necessity. David notes, “Point of Care devices are connected to the Hospital Networks, and they must communicate with middleware and servers on the HNL Network. Ensuring technical compatibility often requires collaboration from the POCT team, with the device vendor, and network/security teams.”
Beyond technical compatibility, the team also addresses the logistical complexities of delivering testing services across numerous locations. Jennifer Phillips, Sr. Technologist, shares that her team works flawlessly with over 13 sites to train, educate, and manage their POCT. The ability to manage various locations enables the POCT team to maintain consistent, quality service.
A Lasting Impact on Patient Care Quality
The POCT team’s work is fundamental to delivering high-quality patient care. As Balga describes, “It is important to provide proper training, QC data monitoring, testing supplies, analyzer maintenance, IT support, method validation, and excellent customer service to ensure quality and accurate, reliable test results for patient care.”
Every step in the POCT process is designed to uphold the accuracy and integrity of results, ensuring they meet the rigorous standards of HNL Lab Medicine. Mercedes Kortz, a POCT specialist monitoring quality control at specific health system partner sites, explains that maintaining competency and quality assurance for nursing staff is an ongoing responsibility.
This involves daily checks on test results, monitoring QC data, and conducting audits to ensure compliance. “We monitor POC testing daily and ensure results are processed in a timely manner,” Kortz shares, noting how quality assurance protocols reinforce the team’s commitment to patient safety.
A Close-Knit, Collaborative Team
The POCT team operates with an inspiring sense of unity and purpose. For many, like Lab Technologist Jennifer Stravinski, it is the support and camaraderie that make the job rewarding.
“The people that make up our team,” she says, “are hands down the best part of POCT. I have the privilege of working with a tight-knit group who each bring invaluable skills and knowledge to the table.” This sentiment is echoed by many others on the team.
Terri Molettiere, a Senior Technical Assistant, mentions the daily teamwork and flexibility of her role, which involves monitoring inventory, validating supplies, and assisting nursing staff with device troubleshooting. Molettiere appreciates the “willingness to help each other out,” a key to the team’s success and their shared goal of improving patient outcomes.
Bridging the Gap Between Laboratory and Patient Care
Perhaps one of the most valuable roles of the POCT team is fostering a better understanding of laboratory processes among non-laboratory healthcare staff.
Stravinski notes the importance of bridging the knowledge gap, saying, “Our team has learned how to communicate in a way that allows the end user to better understand laboratory practices such as quality control, equipment handling, maintaining compliance, and troubleshooting.”
Through training, relationship-building, and support, the POCT team empowers staff to feel confident in performing these tests.
This collaboration not only strengthens the relationship between HNL Lab Medicine and our health system partners but also ensures that every test result meets the high standards required to provide safe, effective patient care.
Commitment and Care in Action
The POCT team at HNL Lab Medicine embodies a multifaceted commitment to patient care. From training and technology management to quality assurance and troubleshooting, this group of skilled professionals operates with a level of dedication that is both impressive and essential.
As David observes, “We have a very knowledgeable and caring group of team players that are always willing to help others. Whether it is a member of our own team, someone from another team, or a provider, the POCT team is always about working as a team to provide quality results for the patients that we serve.”
In a healthcare environment where every minute counts, the POCT team’s dedication to delivering fast, accurate, bedside results has a tangible impact on patients and their families. It’s a testament to the expertise, adaptability, and compassion of the people who make up HNL Lab Medicine’s Point of Care Testing team.