2017 Volume 66 Issue 6 Pages 663-669
A blood gas analyzer is a typical instrument for point-of-care testing (POCT) installed in emergency treatment facilities and can rapidly evaluate multiple items. However, responsibility for the management of the equipment and data has been unclear, since the users are field staff members. We have been aiming to establish a system for the efficient operation and centralized management of blood gas analyzers in hospitals, and multidepartmental cooperation is required to achieve this. Therefore, in cooperation with the Department of Clinical Engineering, we revised the management system and consigned the manufacturer of the analyzing device to one company, i.e., RADIOMETER, so that we can share the reagents and materials, and manage the system easily and efficiently. Management was assigned to the Department of Clinical Laboratory. To manage all the equipment 24 hours a day, a management system for blood gas analyzers (RADIANCE) was introduced. Patients’ measurement and quality control data were collectively managed by the clinical examination management system. In addition, environmental improvement and enhancement of the support system for equipment repair and maintenance were carried out and supervised for efficient operation. By unifying the management system in the Department of Clinical Laboratory, we realized a management system with less waste of equipment and reagents. Moreover, it became possible to clarify who is responsible for the equipment and data management. The updating of a unified equipment management system for POCT was considered as one of the areas that medical technologists can greatly contribute in team medical care.
