Minutes from our

April 8, 2011 meeting

On April 8, 2011, a crowd of interested parties came to the beautiful Self Regional Healthcare campus in Greenwood, SC to network and learn. 

There were 57 attendees, 29 vendors and 2 speakers who were present. 

Hostess Sonya Sheppard and her staff provided the venue with the “Yellow Brick Road” theme, since Greenwood, SC is known as the Emerald City.

After Registration and a Continental Breakfast, the meeting got under way. Io advance to a particular section, click on a link to the left. Copies of the presentations are highlighted in their respective notes and can be accessed by clicking on the title link.

Patti Pitts, POC Coordinator at AnMed Health in Anderson, SC facilitating a session titled  “Now, Which Way Do We Go?”.  This session broke the group into several smaller groups (based on the Wizard of Oz character quote in their packet) to discuss issues most critical to POC Coordinators.  Each group then presented their information and invited discussion among all.

A Vendor Fair was also one of the highlights of the meeting.  29 Vendors assisted with sponsoring the meeting, and several of them also presented an opportunity to obtain literature, get answers to questions and to actually get hands-on experience with the instruments.

Abbott POC	Laboratory Data Systems
Alere	Roche Diagnostics
Medical Automation Systems
Roche Diagnostics	Telcor
Orasure	MSR	Nova Biomedical

Judy Gabriel, MT (ASCP), MA of The Joint Commission presented “TJC --- POCT “in Toto””.  This session was filled with real-life experiences of a Joint Commission inspector.  Judy shared some of the most frequently cited standards, some of the hot topics for 2011 and some items that provide the most opportunity for success for POC Coordinators undergoing inspection.  Judy made everyone feel welcome with her open discussions and her entertaining stories and answers.

A delicious lunch was then provided by one of or our supportive vendors.

Sheila Coffman, MT (ASCP) regarding “Improving Your POC Program – An Upside Down Map”.  Since Sheila is a former POC Coordinator now moved over to the Vendor side, she was able to provide a two-sided perspective for those in attendance.  Sheila was able to give examples of ways to improve and clarify any POC Program, including organization of CLIA certificates and responsibilities, tips for better policies and procedures, handling training and competency through novel approaches, Quality Management and Process Improvements ideas, Connectivity issues and potential solutions, and regulatory problems.  She also discussed the worth of the knowledge of all POC Coordinators and how to best use what you have and how to gain additional education.  Sheila’s presentation was very uplifting and informative.

A Business Meeting and agenda for SC POC Network followed led by Sonya Evans, MT (ASCP), POCC at Greenville Memorial Hospital.  Sonya expressed much appreciation to Sonya Sheppard for a well-planned and informative meeting.  She reviewed upcoming webinars already planned for the SC POC Network through Whitehat Communications.  Those will be held June 29, 2011 and Dec. 8, 2011.  She also requested volunteers for the upcoming Spring 2012 meeting. 

She then stated that this group has not been formally organized and has been led by the Core Group since 2005.  The Core Group consists of:

• Sonya Evans, Greenville Hospital System in Greenville, SC

• Wanda Tipper, Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, SC

• Nina Epps,  Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC

• Karen Sullivan, Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, SC

Sonya stated that she wishes to relinquish her position and proposed a new governing body that could allow for a more structured leadership as well as opportunities for more members to be involved at the governing level.  She reviewed a plan to elect the following (from nominations):

• President of SC POC Network (2 year term)

• Vice Presidents (1 year term)- One to represent each area of the state (see map)

  • Mountains Region

  • Piedmont Region

  • Coastal Region 

• Advisory Board (2 year term)

  • Consists of past Core Group members and host/hostesses from past meetings,
    along with Steve Valorz from MAS)

Duties of each office were outlined with a request for suggestions or changes.  No changes were noted.  All present were asked to list nominations for president and VPs, with voting to be done electronically.  The other three Core Group members will be asked to be listed on the ballot, and nominees will be contacted by Sonya Evans for acceptance of the nomination prior to listing on the ballot. 

The proposal was to have elections in the February with new officers taking office at the Spring meeting.  (Since this first year is short due to late elections, this may be modified until the process is settled.) 
 

The meeting adjourned.
 

Respectfully Submitted,
 Sonya Evans, MT (ASCP)
POC Coordinator
Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center
Greenville, SC

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