Point of Care Testing – Needs, Opportunity and Innovation

Abstract

Point-of-Care Testing: Needs, Opportunity, and Innovation, 3rd Edition. Christopher P. Price, Andrew St John, Larry J. Kricka, eds. Washington, DC, AACC Press, 2010, ISBN: 9871594251030. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a discipline that continues to evolve, not only in technological scope but also in clinical application. This is especially true in light of the changing structure of the healthcare system. These issues are discussed in the third edition of Point-of-Care Testing: Needs, Opportunity, and Innovation , in which the editors emphasize improved patient outcomes, present the fundamentals of POCT technology and management, provide perspective on the international relevance of these topics, and summarize the applications of POCT to specific patient populations and clinical settings. This new edition encompasses issues ranging from healthcare reform, disruptive technology, and lean philosophy, to the general interaction of staff and patients with POCT interfaces and devices. An attempt to personalize POCT and emphasize the technology's potential to improve patient-centered outcomes is accomplished in part via an essay that places the reader in the patient's shoes. One theme is reiterated through the book: POCT has potential to make a major impact on improving not only financial and patient-management outcomes but …