Work

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Impact of Upfront Point-of-Care Testing on Emergency Department Treatment Time

Year: 2018

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To compare standard emergency department (ED) workflow to a protocolized pathway using upfront point-of-care (POC) tests performed prior to doctor evaluation to determine if this could produce a significant reduction in treatment time. METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive the standard of care or one of the enhanced workflow pathways with POC tests. RESULTS: There were 1,044 patients enrolled. All workflows, except electrocardiogram and low-dose x-ray (LODOX), exceeded the outcome measure (20% reduction in treatment time). It was significantly shorter compared with the control workflow if the patient received any (i-STAT + CBC)-containing workflows (P = .0001, P = .020, P = .0009, P = .011), as well as the i-STAT + LODOX workflows (P = .0001, P = .034). CONCLUSIONS: The full benefit of POC testing can be realized if it is implemented prior to doctor evaluation, as part of a standardized procedure in the ED. This allows for a more rapid availability of investigation results subsequently leading to decreased treatment times.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Pathology

DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqy042

Authors: Lara Goldstein, Mike Wells, Craig Vincent-Lambert

Institutions: University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg

Language: English

Topic: Clinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control

Subfield: Medical Laboratory Technology

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Abbott Diagnostics