Increasing Point-of-Care Testing Workload Addressed with New Integrated Systems Solution

Challenges faced by clinical laboratory point-of-care (POC) coordinators can now be more efficiently tackled with an innovative approach developed as a new component of an informatics solution for managing in vitro diagnostics (IVD) analyzers and operators.

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, of Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich, Germany), now offers its new Ecosystem solution, an integrated component of its RAPIDComm Data Management System, an informatics solution that centrally manages Siemens IVD analyzers and operators.

Ecosystem, which encompasses eight core components, includes device management, operator management, quality control, compliance reporting, competency management, inventory management, remote monitoring, and mobile access.

“Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has been carefully analyzing the POC market and is ready to provide a holistic approach to testing,” said Afia Boamah, product manager of Blood Gas, Stratus CS & POC IT S at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, “POC testing continues to grow at a rapid pace and there is a strong need to provide fast and reliable results.” “Although solutions for each of the 8 core components do exist individually, efficiently managing all aspects of a POC testing program requires close collaboration among hospitals, device manufacturers, and IT vendors. The Siemens POC Ecosystem helps to address this challenge by implementing an integrated solution which improves the efficiency and effectiveness of POC programs,” added A. Boamah.

Ecosystem takes the core needs of a POC program into consideration with a focus on helping POC coordinators improve control, effectiveness, and transparency. It manages secure access to POC devices, oversees quality control, manages staff training, and identifies and resolves issues - from any location via the remote access facility. This helps ensure manageability of instruments and consumables for potentially hundreds of testing devices. External compliance requirements are also met, while reducing costs.

“We are working hand-in-hand with healthcare providers to adapt to clinical environments making use of handheld IT devices such as tablets and smart phones. The Ecosystem solution allows POC data management from anywhere within a hospital using these devices, which improves the ability of POC coordinators to quickly and efficiently resolve issues. This has been highlighted by customers as a critical requirement in a fast-paced laboratory environment,” said A. Boamah.

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