[Future of POCT--connection to computer network of a hospital].

Point-of-care testing[POCT] has many advantages and disadvantages. Rapid availability of the results facilitates immediate decision making, which is a most important advantage. However, the results get lost occasionally and solving this problem is essential for the successful use of POCT. We linked a portable blood gas analyzers to the computer network system in our hospital. At the same time we created a new program to automatically save results and create test orders. Thereafter, there has been no loss of results and the results can be checked quickly at any computer display in our hospital. Surveying past results has also become very easy. This rapid sharing and easy survey of results has enhanced the value of POCT by facilitating more immediate clinical decision making and improving the quality of hospital service. In the near future, POCT will have a much greater menu and be used more widely. Many types of echographic studies will be done at bed side as well. Linking POCT to computer network system and automatically saving the results are critical points to providing quality service in hospitals of the new era.