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Minutes from the First Group Meeting of the  
Tri-State POC Network Group Meeting

Guest Speaker

Round-Tables

Closing Remarks

Sponsors

The first meeting of the Tri-State POC Network serving Illinois, Indiana and Michigan took place at the Marriott Courtyard in Merrillville, Indiana on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 from 8:30AM to 3:00 PM.  

57 registered healthcare professionals, as well as representatives from the program sponsors: Careside, Inc., Fisher, Ryan Diagnostics for HemoCue, and Medical Automation Systems (MAS) attended the meeting.

The meeting commenced with opening remarks and the introduction of the core group by Darlene Sobucki, founder of the Tri-State POC Network.  Members of the core group include: 

• Wendy Denk, Ingalls Hospital, Harvey, IL

• Theresa Kulik, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL

• David Noah, Palos Community Hospital, Palos Heights, IL

• Gil Salas, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, IL

• Darlene Sobucki, Advocate Trinity Hospital, Chicago, IL and also Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, IL  

An Overview of POCT

The first speaker for the inaugural meeting was Marcy Anderson, MT (ASCP) with Medical Automation Systems.  Her topic, “An Overview of POCT”, kept everyone attentive and interactive through the use of a Power Point presentation and various props scattered throughout the audience.  

Using such items as a squirt guns, lollipops, and aspirins, Marcy asked the “owners” of these objects to tell stories or incidents of how these articles related to the presentation’s bullet points (such as “all responsibility and no authority” – squirt guns; “competencies” – bribing with lollipops; and “regulatory compliance” – aspirins). 

Marcy concluded the presentation with areas of up and coming POCT and where coordinators may get more information (use of web sites like Point of Care.net, Journals and active POCC groups such as this one).  

During breaks and lunch, participants were able to network as well as visit with the sponsors at the various vender exhibits.

Guest Speaker, Adrienne Malta, MT (ASCP)

The Guest Speaker was Adrienne Malta, MT (ASCP) from CAP (college of American Pathologists).  Her presentation “Accreditation Requirements for Quality Testing” prompted audience participation without the need for any props.  

Adrienne’s presentation touched on all requirements (Quality Control, Proficiency Testing, Procedural Manuals, Competency, Safety, etc). Items such as frequency of QC for sequestered lots of electronic simulators, comparison of multiple instruments/methods, notification/documentation of critical results, and reagent labeling requirements sparked conversations (Validate shipments of sequestered lots of electronic simulators; need to use patient specimens to assure matrix effects are met; critical results need to be documented with time, date, who notified and testing personnel; and labeling requirements have changed that date received and opened are no longer required but the expiration date if required once opened, needs to be clearly written on the vial). 

Adrienne also spoke on new and emerging POC technology and the CAP requirements for these technologies.  Some of the new tests are currently not on the checklists but CAO are actively working on including them in future checklists.

During the Vendor Exhibit portion of the agenda, Warren Wermager from Careside, Inc demonstrated the Careside Analyzer, a 41 Chemical test analyzer of moderate complexity

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The Tri-State POC Network wishes to thank Careside, Ryan Diagnostics (representing HemoCue), Fisher Healthcare and Medical Automation Systems for sponsoring this meeting and showcasing their point-of-care products.

Please watch this web site for information regarding the next meeting, which is slated for Mid April.

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