Point of Care Testing Policy - Southern Health and Social Care Trust

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6.1.1 Trust’s Chief ExecutiveThe Trust’s Chief Executive as “Accountable Officer” has overallresponsibility for ensuring the aims of this policy are met. ThePOCT Chairperson reports to the Chief Executive through theDirector of Acute Services6.1.2 Multidisciplinary POCT CommitteeThe aims and objectives of the committee are• To ensure that the Trust is compliant with national andlocal POCT policies• To evaluate new applications for POCT devices.• To regulate and oversee the POCT quality managementsystem.6.1.3 Point of Care Testing Chairperson:The POCT Chairperson is responsible for coordinating theactivities of the POCT committee. The POCT Chairperson isengaged to provide reports on POCT activity to the Director ofAcute Services and ensure that the POCT Committee remit isperformed effectively. The Chair would normally be expected to bean experienced laboratory professional.6.1.4 Point of Care Testing Departmental Leads:POCT Departmental Leads should be identified to providespecialist knowledge and advice to the POCT Committee, POCTstaff and users of POCT devices.6.1.5 Point of Care Testing CoordinatorThe POCT Coordinator is immediately responsible for the dailycoordination of POCT provision within the Trust. The Coordinatoris engaged to provide the POCT chair with assurance of theproper running of the POCT quality management system.6.1.6 ManagersAll Trust Directors, Assistant Directors, Heads of Service andManagers have responsibility for the management of POCTdevices and equipment within the areas of their remit and control,and for ensuring that processes are fully implemented as part ofthe Trust’s integrated governance requirements.6.1.7 CliniciansClinicians are responsible for identifying areas of clinical needwhere the introduction of POCT could be appropriate and submitan application to the chairperson of the POCT committee forapproval prior to procurement. They can only undertake POCTtesting themselves after adequate training and certification. Theyneed to be familiar with the information provided by themanufacturer and in local SOPs, particularly in relation to theshortcomings of the POCT results that they use for their patientmanagement.Southern Health and Social Care TrustManagement of Point of Care Testing Devices Policy V 2.0 February 2010Page 8 of 11
6.1.8 Link Nurse/ PersonLink nurses will be drawn from ward and departmental staff andwill have sufficient clinical experience and standing to haveauthority with colleagues and managers. The POCT LinkNurse/Person is directly accountable to the Ward or Area Managerfor over seeing the daily operation of defined POCT devices in aspecified area. The Link Nurse/Person will liaise with the POCTco-ordinator and ensure that staff performing POCT in their areaare informed and aware of the Trust policies and procedures.6.1.9 UsersThe Health and Safety at Work Act legislates that all staff areresponsible for ensuring that their acts and omissions do not putthemselves or others at risk. Healthcare Professionals are alsobound by their Code of Ethics and Scope of Professional Practicewhich emphasise the individual’s responsibility when usingequipment or undertaking actions that they are not trained orcompetent to perform. Users should therefore undertake POCTonly after adequate training and certification and should familiarisethemselves with and adhere to all POCT Trust policies and relatedprocedures.7.0 Legislative Compliance, Relevant Policies, Procedures and Guidance7.1 All Trusts must develop, implement and enforce a policy for the control ofPOCT that is consistent with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1987),the Consumer Protection Act (1987), COSHH - COSHH regulations(1989) and Safe Working and the Prevention of Infections in ClinicalLaboratories (1991) and ISO 22870:2006 Point of Care Testing (POCT) -Requirements for quality and competence.8. Equality and Human Rights Considerations8.1 This policy has been screened for equality implications as required bySection 75, Schedule 9, of the Northern Ireland Act, 1998. EqualityCommission for Northern Ireland Guidance states that the purpose ofscreening is to identify those policies which are likely to have asignificant impact on equality of opportunity so that greatest resourcescan be targeted at them.8.2 Using the Equality Commission’s screening criteria, no significantequality implications have been identified. This policy will therefore notbe subject to an equality impact assessment.8.3 This policy has been considered under the terms of the Human RightsAct, 1998, and was deemed to be compatible with the EuropeanConvention Rights contained in that Act.Southern Health and Social Care TrustManagement of Point of Care Testing Devices Policy V 2.0 February 2010Page 9 of 11
Page 1 and 2: MANAGEMENT OF POINT OF CARETESTING
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Page 5 and 6: 1.0 Introduction.1.1 The appropriat
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Point of Care Testing Policy - Southern Health and Social Care Trust

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