It's simply one potential solution to a specific need. Two POC tests that have been institutionalized at Mass General are glucose testing and urinalysis. The hospital implemented these tests not for a medical need but for an operational one. POC glucose testing was brought in so nurses could more efficiently manage diabetic patients.
Nurses can get a quick, approximate glucose level, make a decision, and move on to the next patient.
If we were to do those tests centrally, the lab would be bombarded with stat urinalyses. Mass General eliminated POC testing when it did not offer any operational or medical advantages. In addition, the hospital eliminated POC CLO testing for Helicobacter pylori when it became clear that the test wasn't providing consistent results. Now we use the pneumatic tube to transport the sample to the laboratory where the test can be performed rapidly and with consistent quality. So it's small potatoes.