Skills to solve problems and resolve challenges in point-of-care testing 

6.0 ACCENT credits / Not eligible for CME
Sunday, July 27, 2025
All day course | 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. US Central Time
McCormick Place Chicago

Description

This hands-on course centers on building skills to identify and solve point-of-care testing (POCT) challenges using strategies, tools and successful solutions offered by faculty and other participants. Topics include key components of designing and administering regulatory and accreditation-focused competency assessments, quality system essentials (QSE), and developing skills toward sustaining compliance in the face of changes. Case scenarios set the stage for start-to-finish project management of implementing connectivity solutions, how and when to employ data analytics, data mining, meaningful statistics, and how using proper risk assessments can influence test selection, address corrective actions, and promote simplified troubleshooting within testing sites. Interactive elements include polling during faculty lectures, table exercises, peer-to-peer discussion and a networking break. Participants are encouraged to bring an example of the top problems in their POCT Program (e.g. a statistical study) to share.

Target audience

This activity is designed for physicians, advanced practice professionals (NPs, PAs, RNs, etc.), lab supervisors, lab directors (and/or assistant directors), lab managers (supervisory and/or non-supervisory), medical technologists, point-of-care coordinators, and in-training individuals.

Presentation level

Intermediate

Prerequisite knowledge 

Experience as a POC professional and/or knowledge about POCT is recommended.

What to bring

In addition to a laptop or personal device, we recommend bringing business cards for breakout session #3 to network and share contact information (optional).

Learning objectives

After participating in this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify possible solutions to enable testing sites to improve testing personnel competency including new regulatory or accreditation personnel or policy standards.
• Integrate test selection and risk assessment strategies to enhance the quality of point-of-care testing (POCT), ensuring reliable patient results.
• Discuss POCT connectivity implementation utilizing project management tools, review connectivity troubleshooting strategies, and identify operational strategies covering a wide array of statistical evaluations and formulas used in POCT quality management.

Skills you will gain

• Ability to update the regulatory and accreditation requirements for your POC program.
• Put practical quality management process improvements into practice.
• Use project management skills to reduce POC connectivity issues and enhance solutions. 

Faculty

Peggy Mann, MS, MT (ASCP), CPP | University of Texas Medical Branch

Jeanne Mumford, BS, MLS (ASCP) | Johns Hopkins Hospital 

Kerstin Halverson, MS | Werfen

Erika Deaton-Mohney, BS, MLS(ASCP), CPP | Bronson Healthcare

Course outline

1. (5 – 7 min) Welcome and Introductions (Peggy Mann)
   Agenda overview, review of table materials, and faculty introductions.
   
   
2. (55 min) Art or science? Skillful maneuvering around competency assessment potholes (Peggy Mann) 
   This course section is essential to meeting requirements. It will cover currently required policies, applicable accreditation checklist items and standards, and updated regulatory information for POCT that fulfills the 12.28.24 effective date for CLIA final rule for personnel changes.Includes audience knowledge polling, including the role of Technical Consultant. It includes an interactive Q&A period using real-life scenarios of “is this compliant competency”.
   
   
3. (25-30 min) Breakout #1: Operator assessments (Peggy Mann)
   This breakout is a facilitated small group tabletop exercise. Participants will write operator assessment criteria to meet one of the six required elements included in a competency assessment ‘check-off’ for a nonwaived point-of-care test.
   
   
4. (55 min) It’s not magic! Implementing practical strategies for POCT selection, troubleshooting, and quality improvement (Jeanne Mumford) 
   This course section provides practical strategies for selecting, troubleshooting, and improving POC testing. Instructors will use a blend of interactive teaching style and polling help you be able to make informed decisions and address common issues.
   
   
5. (25-30 mins) Breakout #2: Troubleshoots and risk assessment (Jeanne Mumford)
   This breakout is a facilitated small group exercise focused on practical strategies to troubleshoot. Participants will practice or improve their troubleshooting and risk assessment skills in small group exercises.
   
   (90 min) Lunch break own your own
   Limited lunch options will be available at the convention center.
   
   
6. (55 min) I got the approval to interface that new POCT analyzer! Now what do I do? (Kerstin Halverson)
   This interactive presentation includes audience polling on connectivity topics and project management, table-top exercises, and worksheet completion. Participants will walk away with more knowledge and new tools to address connectivity issues.
   
   
7. (55 min) The quality of statistics: Where do we see them and what do they mean for point-of-care testing? (Erika Deaton-Mohney)
   The instructor will cover numerous statistical evaluations related to compliance with current regulations and standards. Participants will interact using audience knowledge polling, covering a wide array of statistical formulas used in managing the quality of POCT.
   
   
8. (15 min) Breakout #3: Networking session
   The networking breakout includes participant elective networking and business card exchange; faculty distributes business cards and networks with all participants who want to engage them. 
   
   
9. (15 mins) Summary: Take home messages and closing recap 
   Instructors will review objectives, essential take home messages, and action items.
   
   
10. (20-30 min) Panel Q&A 
    Participants are invited to ask questions live or submit them in the mobile app or on index cards distributed throughout the course. from the course or their work. All course faculty participate and field questions as applicable to their work/experience. Time permitting, instructors will lead a monitored 'open mic' by participants who want to contribute solutions to problems posed to faculty.