February 3, 2004

Christopher Fetters

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is an increasingly popular means of delivering rapid turnaround time of laboratory analysis. The acute nature of patients in the emergency department (ED), and the need for critical care testing in this population, makes the trauma setting an optimal place for implementing point-of-care testing. When used properly, POCT speeds turnaround time of test results and gives ED physicians the opportunity for quicker therapeutic interventions. Today, as a result of advances in diagnostic testing, ED physicians can order tests to help clarify the patient’s condition, and then receive the results while they are examining the patient rather than waiting for results from the central lab.

But making POCT really work in the ED is no easy task. An effective system requires a lot of preparation and a comprehensive understanding of a hospital’s capabilities and patient population. This month, our resident expert is Christopher Fetters, who will answer your questions and offer tips on:

• Optimizing your ED triage procedures
• Avoiding the need to divert patients
• Deciding which POCT tests belong in your ED
• Achieving regulatory compliance in your most non-compliant unit: the ED.