Minutes from our April 5, 2004 Meeting at Strong Memorial Hospital

"Sources of Variation
in POCT"

Introduction

Denise Danzi-Rotolo welcomed members and Lifescan to the Spring meeting of the Upstate New York Point of Care Group. Thank you to Lifescan for providing refreshments and presenter.

Presentation 

Lifescan’s Rick Lebo presented "Sources of Variation in POCT" which included a section on Alternate Site Testing (AST) for glucose meters and a Troubleshooting Quiz for both hospital and consumer.

Group Discussion

How Do We, as POC,
Communicate With Non-Lab Staff?

Suggestions offered included:

• Hold or attend monthly meetings with nursing staff or nurse managers and patient care techs
• Form a Nursing/Lab Liaison Group so all members can openly share concerns about any Lab/Nursing concern
• As POC, have open door policy to encourage all staff members to openly share with you and are comfortable working with you
• Form and utilize POC Committee - have Laboratory Director(s) involved as well as POC and Nursing, Physicians and Risk Management
• Get "buy in" from hospital administration
• Be involved in Education Policy, procedures and training
• Be visible and available in your POC settings
• Utilize e-mail to communicate messages to managers and staff
• Use QA report format to communicate compliance
• Make use of regulatory inspection checklists to evaluate compliance
• Whenever new equipment is brought in or being evaluated - have demo days for POC users to come and help evaluate
• For recertification become part of "Skills Day"
• Utilize instrument "lock-out"
• Involve nursing and office staff in POC as much as possible so that it is a joint venture.
• Use "because JCAHO/CAP said so…" as the very last resort

• Monthly meetings with the nurse educator

• Open door policy

• Involvement in the education process

• Report findings to the QA director

•  Having a presence at Nurse Education Day

• Using regulatory agencies as the ultimate tool

Next Meeting:

Date: July 12, 2004 from 2 PM- 5 PM at Highland Hospital ~ Gleason Room, 1000 South Avenue. Rochester, New York 14620

"Protime testing as POC"