Community-based Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)™ Accreditation Program
Accreditation is the evaluation of processes to ensure quality and competence, through conformance to a globally acknowledged standard or other technical documents. Public members accessing services such as medical laboratory testing (including medical specimen procurement and point-of-care testing), echocardiography and diagnostic imaging expect reliability and high quality. Accreditation elevates the confidence of patients, health care providers, facility administration, government and of all those working in the accredited service.
The availability of simple-to-use POCT devices has led to rapid innovation and adoption of POCT in community settings. This helps improve access and deliver faster care to patients. POCT results can be used to make important decisions about patients, and it is vital that the equipment works properly to yield the correct results and that the operators are trained and competent. ISO/TS 22583 is a technical specification document that provides guidance on operation of POCT devices. This document lays out standardized processes and procedures for both test/equipment selection as well as skill requirements for technical performance and result interpretation. This approach strengthens the reliability, quality and interpretation of results so they meet their intended use.
This AC Diagnostics accreditation program assesses the ability of a facility to perform diagnostic POCT with formal recognition of this competence through accreditation to our ISO 22583 Community-based POCT™ program. It also provides facilities with the tools they need to standardize their processes, address diminishing resources, mitigate risk and drive continual quality improvement; ultimately improving patient safety.
Accreditation elevates confidence in the health care system.
The types of facilities eligible for accreditation under this program include but are not limited to:
- Hospitals that do not have a medical laboratory
- Long-term care facilities
- Pharmacies
- Physician offices
- Emergency, pandemic, and disaster testing centres
- Outreach clinics in remote areas
- Naturopathic clinics