June 3, 2005 - Six years ago, AACC Critical and Point-of-Care Testing Division launched a program to recognize outstanding achievements by a person primarily responsible for an institution’s POCT program.  This year the CPOCT Division is pleased to honor Ann Snyder is the Point-of Care Testing Coordinator for the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Located 20 minutes north of downtown Baltimore in Towson, Maryland, GBMC Healthcare includes a 314 bed hospital, the Physicians Pavilion East, West and ancillary support buildings; Hospice of Baltimore County, Hospice of Howard County, Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care, Physicians Pavilion in Owings Mills, the Wound Care Center and the Weinberg Community Health Center.

Recent additions to the hospital include a newly renovated Emergency Department (ED), new Surgical Intensive Care unit, and an expanded Operating Room with four new surgical suites. GBMC is best known for its Women’s Health Services with 4,485 births in 2004 and was named one of America's Best Hospitals in Cancer Care by US News & World Report for 2001.

Ann has worked at GBMC for 22 years, first in Hematology and then the Stat Lab. Ann was first introduced to point-of care testing in 1992 when she was asked to be a member of the first hospital point-of care testing committee. As the Senior Medical Technologist in the Stat Lab, her technical expertise was needed to support and assist with the program and its first coordinator. In 1997, Ann was promoted to the position of Point-of Care Testing Coordinator; part time POC testing and part time bench technologist. At that time the POC test menu included glucose, hemoglobin and urine pregnancy testing and oversight of the glucose testing program at the Sheppard Pratt Health system, a behavioral health system adjacent to the GBMC campus to whom the laboratory provides testing services. As the program expanded and testing sites were added, Ann received a “battle field promotion” to full time POC Coordinator in January, 2000. Over the years the program has grown to a 13 test menu which includes activated clotting times, fecal occult blood, urine dipsticks, urine specific gravity, nitrazine pH, Fern testing, KOH & wet mounts, prothrombin time & INR (anticoagulation clinic) and most recently, hemoglobin A1c testing. In November, 2000, Ann added connectivity to her platform of responsibilities when the hospital upgraded to a new glucose meter system. This was also an opportunity for Ann to become involved in the training and competency assessment of over 1500 hospital staff, which has helped to achieve a more consistent and standardized glucose program.

In addition to training new staff and yearly “Train the trainer” workshops, Ann is involved in all aspects of the point-of care testing program, device selection, test validation, implementation, procedure writing, and quality assurance. She is also facilitator of the hospital Point-of Care committee and is responsible for the coordination of clinical student rotations in the clinical laboratory for three local MT/MLT programs.

The 2005 POCC of the Year, Ann Snyder, second from left, of Greater Baltimore Medical Center, is shown with past award winners, from left to right, Diana DeHoyos of the University of Texas Medical Branch - 2002, winner; Dave Colard, Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, MO - 2004 winner; Lou Ann Wyer, Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, VA - 2001 winner; and Deanna Bogner, Christus Santa Rosa Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, 2003 winner.

Outside of the hospital Ann has demonstrated her commitment to point-of care testing and her profession in a number of ways. In September/2000, a core group of laboratory professionals, including Ann (the ring leader), came together to create the Baltimore/Chesapeake Bay Point-of Care Coordinators group. Since that time there have been 13 meetings and a bus trip (July/2003) to the annual ASCLS/AACC meeting, in Philadelphia. This past October, the BCB POCC core group and the local division of AACC combined talents to organize a very successful informatics conference and vendor show. Ann is also a founding member of the Capital Region Point-of Care Coordinators Group, has served three years as President of the Maryland Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and is currently serving as State Secretary and the Region 2 representative to the ASCLS Leadership Development Committee. In August, 2001, Ann presented a poster entitled Improving a Point-of-Care Testing Program with Connectivity. at the ASCLS/AACC Annual meeting & Clinical Laboratory Expo. in Chicago, IL. Most recently Ann has participated on a state-wide laboratory taskforce, which resulted in changes regarding reporting and billing for point-of care tests in Maryland. Ann currently serves as a member of MT/MLT advisory committees for the University of Maryland Department of Research and Medical Technology and Villa Julie College.

Ann would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported her nomination for this award. Their eternal enthusiasm has supported Ann throughout the years and encouraged her to seek opportunities to provide a voice and vision for point-of care testing. Their heartfelt support speaks volumes.

This auspicious award, sponsored by the AACC CPOCT Division and funded by Lifescan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, includes an honorarium and an elegant trophy. The award will be presented on Tuesday, July 26th at the CPOCT Membership Mixer and Business Meeting, Tuesday, July 26, 2005 from 6:00-8:00pm, at the Rosen Centre Hotel—Salon 10.