Point of Care Testing for Advanced Practitioners (Paramedics)

Point of care testing (POCT) is described as a laboratory test conducted near the patient with a rapid result obtained through a portable analysing device, as opposed to the collection of a blood sample being transferred to a central laboratory for analysis and reporting. Over the past 15 years increasing emphasis has been placed upon the paramedic profession as a possible solution to addressing the increasing demands placed on emergency departments. This is largely viewed through the ability of paramedics to assess patients calling 999 and manage a patient's condition away from the emergency department, with sufficient evidence supporting the role of the paramedic to develop competencies to manage larger volumes of patients. This feasibility study will seek to understand whether paramedics report that the use of POCT devices is useful in safe clinical decision making with patients in the community, and if it is possible to use the Abbott i-STAT device in the urgent and emergency care setting for those patients where management within the community is being considered. Given that there is very little evidence in this subject area, the research should start to inform the potential for future innovations in paramedic and community practice, and build on the body of evidence regarding POCT by paramedics related to community management.