A-330 Implementation of a Point of Care Emergency Preparedness policy: Are you ready for a disaster?
Authors: Elli B A 
Published: October 2024

Background

CAP Gen.73800 requires laboratories to have an Emergency Preparedness and Response policy. Hospital standards for Joint Commission Accreditation, EM.09.01.01, EM.12.02.09, and EM.16.01.01 require hospitals to have a comprehensive emergency management program including an ability to manage resources and assets during an emergency and conduct exercises to evaluate its plan. According to a survey of 27 POCT departments, only 35% have a POCT policy separate from the main lab and 50% of POCT programs are involved with emergency preparedness drills. With the continuing growth of POC testing, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) POCT team recognized a need for a collaborative effort between main laboratories, the emergency management team, and POCT to develop a POCT emergency preparedness policy.

Methods

UPMC POCT team collaborated with emergency management to decide what details regarding POC tests and devices would be needed if the main laboratory was rendered not functional. Additionally, a hazard vulnerability review identified potential internal and external events that could impact patient care. POC coordinators from across the system supplied feedback as to what situations within POC could impact patient safety.

Results

An evaluation of hazards considered debilitating to the main laboratory included external events, such as weather emergencies or evacuation of the hospital due to safety concerns. Potential internal events including a loss of water or impeded functionality of an instrument platform were identified. Available POC tests may offer solutions to deficits in main lab testing. The POCT program is not immune to potential emergency situations. Connectivity/IT issues can require extensive troubleshooting. Supply chain disruptions that affect the availability of consumables may lead to a reverse scenario where emergency management may assist. On-line training modules are a consideration when labor strikes or staffing shortages require POCT programs to quickly onboard replacement workers as new operators. During pandemics, Coordinators may need to rapidly implement new testing. The UPMC Emergency Preparedness policy was developed as a guide to the POCT team to ensure the continuation of testing ability in these emergent situations and addresses the need for communication with Incident Command. The UPMC POCT Emergency Preparedness policy is linked to a Microsoft Form that can be quickly completed by POC coordinators throughout the system. Responses to the form can be exported to an Excel spreadsheet and will supply emergency management with POC device-specific information, listing devices as battery operated, wireless capable, tabletop or hand-held and provides test menus. This spreadsheet allows coordinators to decide the number of devices and consumables that could be pooled from all facilities within the system.

Conclusions

Ninety-three percent of survey respondents acknowledged that they could potentially benefit from a POCT emergency preparedness policy. Increasing the number of POCT programs involved in emergency preparedness drills would improve response to emergency management challenges. The UPMC POCT Emergency Management Policy guides POC coordinators through situations, allowing them to pool resources to allow for the continuity of testing necessary for quality patient care.