Stepwise approach to developing point-of-care testing services in the community/ambulatory pharmacy setting.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a stepwise approach to development and implementation of a point-of-care testing (POCT) patient care service.

SETTING

Community and ambulatory care pharmacy practice.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

To provide community and ambulatory pharmacists with the steps involved in integrating POCT services into their pharmacy practice site.

PRACTICE INNOVATION

Authors used various resources to detail the process of implementing pharmaceutical care in community or ambulatory pharmacy settings in combination with individual practice experiences. The five steps involved in developing a POCT service include conducting a needs assessment, researching and organizing information, developing program materials, implementing the service, and evaluating the service. The narrative description of each step is illustrated by a case study example.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Not applicable.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION: POCT patient care services are a valuable addition to a pharmacy's services, benefiting patients, health care providers, and the pharmacy. This article presents a structured, deliberate approach with resources that can be used to develop a successful POCT service within a community or ambulatory pharmacy setting.