TRI-STATE POC
NETWORK
October Meeting
Minutes
October 5, 2011
The 2011 Fall meeting with
Vendor fair was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Alsip,
Illinois on Wednesday, October 5th from 9:00 AM to 3:30
PM. The meeting was attended by 46 registered
healthcare professionals and sponsored by Alere, IL and
MAS. Registered vendors included: Abaxis, Abbott I
Stat, Alere, Axis-Shield, BD, Beckman Coulter,
Diagnostic Test Group LLC, Fisher HealthCare, Helena,
HemoCue, Instrumentation Laboratories, ITC, Laboratory
Data Systems, MAS, Masimo, Nova Bio-Medical, Quidel,
Radiometer, Roche Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostic NPT
Division, Siemens, Telcor and Thermo-Fisher.
The meeting commenced with
opening remarks by Joanne McEldowney, RN and recognition
of Kim Skala as POCC of the Year. Members of the
core group include: Wendy Denk, Ingalls Hospital,
Harvey, IL; Joanne McEldowney, RN, Univ of Illinois –
Chicago, Chicago, IL; Gil Salas, Univ of Illinois –
Chicago, Chicago, IL and Sandra Curran, Univ of
Illinois.
The first session, “Beyond
3SD: Nursing and the POCC Interface”, was presented
by Debbi Tiffany MSEd, MLS(ASCP)CM, SCCM, SLSCM –
Director of Laboratory Services, Swedish American Health
Systems and was sponsored by Alere. Debbi provided the
“Scientists” (that’s us) with views and impressions that
the “Caregivers” (those are the Nurses/Associates) have
of us and why communications are so important for a
successful POC program. Some observations from the
Caregivers include comments like: no one in the lab ever
makes eye contact, or they’re always so serious, doesn’t
anyone laugh? Or do they ever do anything spontaneous?
And even, lab techs are Nerds. The perception of us is
we’re arrogant, ruthless, unrealistic, weird and
unappreciative. So, is there a Lab Personality and a
Nursing Personality?
The Scientist is driven to
create structure and has no patience for inefficiency
whereas the Caregiver nurtures and enjoys creating
order. The Scientist is calm, analytical, rational,
reserved, detached, works alone, efficient, strategist
whereas the Caregivers are warm hearted, sympathetic,
cooperative, observant of other’s feelings, believe in
the “group Hug”, offer security, peaceful living and
live in the here and now. And how can the two
communicate? Communication needs to be effective so the
ideas need to be clearly articulated and the scientist
needs to understand the listening audience so start with
the common goal, providing the best possible Patient
Care. If you have trouble understanding the Caregiver,
get a “translator” like a Nurse Manager or Educator and
avoid stereotyping (Nurses just don’t get it). Don’t
use statements of defensiveness, doubt or disapproval
but be consultative and respect the differences between
“us” and “them”. Remember that nurses are not lab
people, that they work with people, not machines, and
they feel the art of nursing is more important than the
science of nursing. The threat of TJC or CAP might bring
compliance but we would be better off recognizing and
showing the direct effect that POC testing has on
patient care. We don’t like to be told what to do or
how to do it, neither do nurses, so be flexible, think
about what and how you say or do things and remember
that Lab and Nursing working together to provide good
patient care will yield improved outcomes.
The Vendor Fair was held
from 10am – Noon and once again we thank the vendors for
their support and the time they spent with us.
Following lunch, “POC:
Instruments, People, Parts, Places and Connectivity
was presented by John Ancy, MA, RT, Instrument
Laboratory, Senior Clinical Consultant. John discussed
the Key considerations in POC testing: Need, Cost,
Specifications, QC, Training and IT considerations. POC
testing has grown and will keep growing as more tests
are offered, but sensible selection of test menus will
need to balance the “needs” with the “wants”. Identify
the “I want” from the “I need”. Will the POC test
reduce TAT? Reduce LOS? Improve care management? Improve
patient convenience/satisfaction/disease management?
Improve caregiver/physician satisfaction? You need to
consider the environment (ED? OR? Cath Lab?, etc) and
will the POCT improve outcome or are there ways to
improve TAT from the core lab? And what skill level of
users will be needed? And how many devices? What about
infection control considerations? And should the testing
be waived or non-waived? How about cost per test vs. the
core lab? Training? Ease of use?
Bottom line, does reduced TAT
improve care? The benefits of POC include: reduced TAT,
reduced morbidity/mortality (glycemic control protocols,
heparin protocols, ventilator/oxygen protocols,
resuscitations, sepsis protocols), reduced error from
transport and specimen handling, reduced LOS=Reduced
costs but POC is generally higher cost/test.
Training/competency/manageability (QC, supplies,
connectivity) are critical for reliable results so
include these aspects when making the sensible
selection.
Sandra Curran led the
Roundtable Discussions.
-
New CAP checklist, has
anyone been inspected under it?
-
How are you meeting the
new competency requirements?
-
How about the disinfection
requirements for devices?
-
How are you meeting the
PPT competency for physicians?
-
How are you reporting ABG
critical results?
There will be no spring
meeting, the next meeting with a Vendor Fair will be
October 3rd at the Doubletree Hotel in Alsip. A late
spring webinar(s) is under consideration.
Respectfully Submitted,
Wendy Denk, MT(ASCP)
