Developing a Comprehensive POCT Competency Assessment Program

1. Developing a Comprehensive POCT Competency Assessment Program Marcy Anderson, MS MT(ASCP) Medical Automation Systems, Inc. RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

2. Agenda • Define the problem. • Who regulates competencies? • CLIA 88, JCAHO and CAP • What are the steps to develop ones own program? • How does one measure success? • Examples of competency tools. RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

3. What is the problem? • Too many operators to keep track of. • Communication between nursing and lab (POC) is incomplete. • Documentation is not standardized and/or hard to keep track of. • Operators are expired but still performing POC testing. • Hard to determine what method to use/what is most effective. RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

4. Who regulates competencies? CLIA 88 (semi-annually and yearly thereafter) -Direct Observation -Monitoring recording and reporting -Review of results -Observation of instrument maintenance -Testing previously analyzed specimens -Problem solving skills RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

5. Who regulates competencies? JCAHO must show training, orientation, and competence -Testing of unknown specimen -Observation of routine work -Quality Control performance The JCAHO emphasizes skills testing for individuals who perform testing infrequently RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

6. Who regulates competencies Some examples of evidence of performance of the standards include but are not limited to: Personnel records Orientation and competence policy and procedures Ongoing data collection (talking to staff, observation, analyzing trends) RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

7. Who regulates competencies? CAP -Direct observation -Monitoring of records -Review of test results -Observation of instrument maintenance -Test performance using previously analyzed specimens -Problem solving skills RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

8. Achieving competence 1. WHO Who needs to be trained? 2. WHAT What tests do they do that need to have a competency assessment? These must be answered for the scope and competency assessment program to be developed!! RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

9. Next Questions? 3. Who is responsible for implementation and management of operator competencies within the institution? Is this documented in an institutional policy? RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

10. Next Questions? 4. What methods are used for achieving competency assessment? Does one method prevail over others? Are the positive and negative aspects of each method accessible to the person responsible for competencies? RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

11. Administering a written test Make sure you include the pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical aspects. Quiz RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

12. Hands on Testing How many of you distribute and watch the performance of proficiency at the floors? RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

13. Tutorial based computerized program www.utmb.edu/poc www.cdhb.govt.nz RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

14. Next Questions? 5. What is the acceptable threshold level of compliance for competency within the institution? Is the threshold being achieved? If not, what are the possible causes and corrective actions? RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

15. Next Questions? 6. Is there a mechanism for the end user to be made aware when his/her competency is due? Are there corrective actions for non-compliance? RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

16. Remember to reward for a job well done RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing

17. Conclusion • Develop a program that is fine tuned for your institution. • Keep communication lines open with nursing. • Remember to assess your competency program. Make changes if needed. • Reward for a job well done. RALS®-Plus Your Connectivity Solution for Point-of-Care Testing