Setting Up a Point-of-Care Testing Service in a Greenfield, Quaternary Hospital: An Implementation Review.

CONTEXT.—: The health care industry is growing rapidly and is continually seeking more-innovative ways to deliver patient care. The growing demands of clinicians seeking faster and more-efficient ways of providing care to their patients presents challenges to clinical laboratory services. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is frequently seen as a viable solution to address this dilemma. The role of POCT is widely established and accepted in many circumstances provided certain criteria are met.

OBJECTIVES.—: To discuss the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi experience-the challenges faced and the solutions found-during the process of establishing a POCT service in a greenfield hospital, and to share this experience to support health care professionals wishing to establish or expand POCT services.

DATA SOURCE.—: First-hand expert opinion relating to setting up a POCT service, which was guided and informed by national and international standards and regulatory bodies, provide the basis for this review.

CONCLUSIONS.—: Point-of-care testing is a fast growing and unique discipline of pathology. The establishment of a new POCT service creates distinctive and unique challenges compared with traditional laboratory services. The difficulties experienced are compounded in a greenfield hospital but the process of multidisciplinary collaboration and information exchange among peer groups allows the efficient development of a highly effective POCT department.