Abstract
Clinical Governance is a quality framework encompassing risk management, clinical and cost effectiveness, and patient outcomes. These principles apply to point-of-care testing (POCT), which is becoming widely used within hospitals and the community. Formal regulation of POCT is variable throughout the world, but it is vital that the principles of clinical governance are followed in the implementation and management of POCT and laboratory professionals have a responsibility to advise users of POCT accordingly.
References
1. Department of Health. First class service: quality in the New NHS. London: HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationary Office), 1998.Search in Google Scholar
2. Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS, editors. To err is human: building a safer health system. Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2000.Search in Google Scholar
3. Freedman DB. Clinical governance: implications for point-of-care testing. Ann Clin Biochem 2002; 39:421–3.10.1258/000456302320314421Search in Google Scholar
4. Freedman DB. Clinical governance – the implications for point-of-care testing in hospitals: a UK perspective. In: Price CP, St John A, Hicks JM, editors. Point-of-care testing, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2004:171–7.Search in Google Scholar
5. Ovretveit J. Health service quality: an introduction to quality methods for health services. Oxford: Blackwell, 1992.Search in Google Scholar
6. Plebani M, Carraro P. Mistakes in a stat laboratory: types and frequency. Clin Chem 1997; 43:1348–51.10.1093/clinchem/43.8.1348Search in Google Scholar
7. Bonini P, Plebani M, Ceriotti F, Rubboli F. Errors in laboratory medicine. Clin Chem 2002; 48:691–8.10.1093/clinchem/48.5.691Search in Google Scholar
8. Kost GJ. Preventing medical errors in point-of-care testing. Security, validation, performance, safeguards and connectivity. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2001; 125:1307–15.10.5858/2001-125-1307-PMEIPOSearch in Google Scholar
9. Salka L, Kiechle FL. Connectivity for point-of-care glucose testing reduces error and increases compliance. Point of Care 2003; 2:114–8.10.1097/00134384-200306000-00007Search in Google Scholar
10. Point-of-care connectivity; Approved standard (POCT1-A). 2001. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, http://www.clsi.org/Search in Google Scholar
11. Bissell M, Sanfilippo F. Empowering patients with point-of-care testing. Trends Biotechnol 2002; 20:269–70.10.1016/S0167-7799(02)01961-3Search in Google Scholar
12. Grieve R, Beech R, Vincent J, Mazurkiewicz J. Near-patient testing in diabetes clinics: appraising the costs and outcomes. Health Technol Assess 1999; 3:1–74.10.3310/hta3150Search in Google Scholar
13. Price CP, St John A. Research into outcomes from point-of-care testing. In: Price CP, St John A, Hicks JM, editors. Point-of-care testing, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2004:109–15.Search in Google Scholar
14. Kendall J, Reeves B, Clancy M. Point of care testing: randomized, controlled trial of clinical outcome. Br Med J 1998; 316:1052–7.10.1136/bmj.316.7137.1052Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
15. Point-of-care in vitro diagnostic (IVD) testing; Approved guideline (AST2-A), 1999. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, http://www.clsi.org/Search in Google Scholar
16. ISO 22870: Point-of-care testing (POCT) – Requirements for quality and competence 2001. International Organization for Standardization. http://www.iso.org/Search in Google Scholar
17. Management and use of IVD point of care test devices. MDA DB2002(03). London: Medical Devices Agency, March 2002.Search in Google Scholar
18. Price CP. Benchmarking in laboratory medicine: are we measuring the right outcomes? Benchmarking: An International Journal 2005; 12:449–66.10.1108/14635770510619375Search in Google Scholar
19. Pearson J. Equipment procurement and implementation. In: Price CP, St John A, Hicks JM, editors. Point-of-care testing, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2004:127–35.Search in Google Scholar
©2006 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York