When patients are in the hospital, they are often tested for many diseases and conditions. In fact, many hospitals have clinical testing areas and labs for testing saliva blood, and urine. However, these labs require a large amount of manpower and time to test samples, collect data, and analyze results. POCT (Point-of-Care Testing) is bedside testing for patients. Although POCT technologies provide many benefits such as, reduced testing time, decreased turnaround time, increased portability, and improved accuracy of results, high costs have inhibited many facilities from purchasing and using POCT technologies. Finding a way to reduce the cost of POCT technologies could save many lives through the aforementioned processes. Three solutions have
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The first proposed solution is the selective adoption of POCT technology. For this solution, researches would conduct a cost benefit analysis for each individual POCT device. This would ensure that only the devices that provide an overall cost benefit would be used. For example, as shown by John and Price, INR, HbA1c, and Lipid tests using POCT have a lower overall cost compared to corresponding CLT tests, the cost differences being, 148$, 4$ and 530$ respectively. Such research has been done in certain place such as, Australia, but for the issue to be addressed this research must be done more commonly. Some cons of this solution would be the time and money needed to analyze the efficiency and cost benefits of many …show more content…
The widespread use of POCT is promising for the improvement of medical care in both developed and developing countries. POCT is effective compared to CLT because it has a short turnaround time, and can save lives when speed is in need. Application and use of POCT is growing, with wide range of medical uses with greater possibilities and increased efficiency. However, the current use of POCT is limited due to cost restraints. Although POCT has come a long way from where it was 20 years ago, POCT technology is still being developed and improved. POCT does provide speed, but “it is important to consider [costs] in relation to the adoption of POCT”, as stated by John and Price (John and Price 61). Three alternative solutions to enhance utilization of POCT technology have been reviewed; adoption of POCT tests that are cost efficient makes the most sense, until POCT is made more
The first proposed solution is the selective adoption of POCT technology. For this solution, researches would conduct a cost benefit analysis for each individual POCT device. This would ensure that only the devices that provide an overall cost benefit would be used. For example, as shown by John and Price, INR, HbA1c, and Lipid tests using POCT have a lower overall cost compared to corresponding CLT tests, the cost differences being, 148$, 4$ and 530$ respectively. Such research has been done in certain place such as, Australia, but for the issue to be addressed this research must be done more commonly. Some cons of this solution would be the time and money needed to analyze the efficiency and cost benefits of many …show more content…
The widespread use of POCT is promising for the improvement of medical care in both developed and developing countries. POCT is effective compared to CLT because it has a short turnaround time, and can save lives when speed is in need. Application and use of POCT is growing, with wide range of medical uses with greater possibilities and increased efficiency. However, the current use of POCT is limited due to cost restraints. Although POCT has come a long way from where it was 20 years ago, POCT technology is still being developed and improved. POCT does provide speed, but “it is important to consider [costs] in relation to the adoption of POCT”, as stated by John and Price (John and Price 61). Three alternative solutions to enhance utilization of POCT technology have been reviewed; adoption of POCT tests that are cost efficient makes the most sense, until POCT is made more