Italian 
English Il valore della diagnostica decentrata nella medicina di prossimità: una rete di dispositivi, competenze e multi-professionalità nella provincia di Modena
The PoCT role in the development of a clinical assistance network in proximity medicine
AUTORI
Dipartimento Interaziendale ad Attività Integrata “Medicina di laboratorio e Anatomia Patologica”, Azienda USL di Modena e Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria
ABSTRACT
The PoCT role in the development of a clinical assistance network in proximity medicine
The PoCT role in the development of a clinical assistance network in proximity medicine
Point of care testing (POCT) identifies laboratory diagnostic tests conducted near the site of patient care, outside the laboratory, usually performed by healthcare personnel not professionally trained in laboratory medicine. When used appropriately, POCT could improve the patient’s outcomes providing faster results and earlier therapeutic strategies. In the Province of Modena, a decentralized and multi-professional POCT diagnostic system consisting of 383 instruments was developed to integrate the clinical and diagnostic pathways supporting fast clinical decisions, to improve outcomes and to optimize the clinical patient pathways. POCT instruments were installed not only in emergency rooms of three hospitals but also in specific settings as the Community hospital (OSCO), oncological and emergency settings and neonatal intensive care. Furthermore, 264 glucometers were located in various departments of three hospitals. This system provides multiple advantages for: patients reducing waiting time and long-distance travelling from home, healthcare professionals improving skills, autonomy and responsibility, reducing workload and promoting collaboration, and the healthcare system giving continuity in the therapeutic and assistance pathways ensuring a high analytical quality and costs reduction. To implement a successful POCT network main factors are to be developed : a multidisciplinary team composed by physicians, nurses and laboratory technicians working together, the continuous training and education of operators and a close connectivity between POCTs and central laboratory.