Abstract
Objective
Point-of-care laboratory testing (POCT) is associated with a reduced time to testing
results and critical decision making within emergency departments. POCT is an essential
clinical assessment tool because laboratory data are used to support timely critical
decisions regarding acute medical conditions onditions ; however, there is currently
limited research to support the use of POCT in the critical care transport environment.
Few studies have evaluated the changes in patient care that occur after POCT during
critical care transport. This study aims to contribute to the limited data available
correlating prehospital POCT and changes in patient care.
Methods
After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of patients transported
by a critical care transport team between October 1, 2013 and September 31, 2015 was
completed. During the study period, 11,454 patients were transported, and 632 (5.51%)
received POCT testing.
Results
Patient care changes were noted in 244 (38.6%) patient tests. The most frequent patient
care alterations were ventilator settings (10.9%), electrolyte changes (10.4%), and
unit bed upgrades (7.1%). POCT most frequently altered care for patients with post–cardiac
arrest syndrome (64.7%), sepsis/septic shock (61.8%), diabetic ketoacidosis (54.5%),
or pneumonia (49.3%).
Conclusion
Patient care alterations occurred in 38.6% of patients undergoing POCT. Patient care
was most frequently changed when patients were diagnosed with post–arrest, sepsis/septic
shock, diabetic ketoacidosis, and pneumonia.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: May 23, 2022
Identification
Copyright
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