American Association for Clinical Chemistry
Improving healthcare through laboratory medicine
Quality Management

POC Program

POINT-OF-CARE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

COURSE INFORMATION

This course describes how to develop a quality plan to ensure that all test results are accurate and medically relevant. It includes how to develop a quality plan that addresses  correct patient identification, proper specimen collection, specimen labeling, specimen handling, examination/testing process, result interpretation, limitations of procedure, reporting of results, quality control, proficiency testing, and accreditation.

  • The course is open September 1, 2009–August 31, 2010
  • Enrollment is open June 1, 2009–May 31, 2010

COURSE DETAILS

This course covers the following topics:

  • Training and Competency
  • Pre-Analytical
    • Patient identification, preparation and labeling
    • Specimen collection
    • Specimen handling 
  • Analytical
    • Testing Overview
    • Test Accuracy
    • Timely testing
  • Post-Analytical
    • Reporting of results
    • Interpretation of results
  • Continuous Quality Improvement Process
    • QI Monitors
    • CQI Feedback
    • CQI Models
  • Safety

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The learner will be able to:

  • Describe quality improvement opportunities for pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical testing activities.
  • Describe the components of good quality POC indicators.
  • Differentiate between types of Continuous Quality Improvement tools.
  • Choose 2 performance monitors for a given POC test and produce a reporting format for the monitors.