point-of-care
At the patient
Point-of-care describes medical testing or treatment performed at or near where a patient is being treated, rather than in a centralized laboratory: point-of-care diagnostics, point-of-care ultrasound.
The term emphasizes immediacy—results come quickly enough to inform decisions during the same visit.
A point-of-care glucose test gives diabetics instant readings; a point-of-care COVID test yields results in minutes.
Test to identify problems
- bedsideNear the mattress
- rapidMoving with haste
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- meterDevice that measures usage
strip · analyzer · troponin · hemoglobin · A1C · urinalysis · lactate · coagulation
Near the mattress
- clinicOutpatient treatment facility
- ambulanceEmergency medical transport
- pharmacyMedicinal dispensary
- emergencySerious sudden danger
triage · ward · ICU · operating room · dental chair · home health · field · mobile
Constructed tool or machine
- handheldDesigned for palm use
- portableAble to be carried
- biosensorBiological chemical detection device
- microfluidicInvolving tiny channel flows
smartphone · wireless · Bluetooth · connectivity · reader · digital · miniaturized · wearable
Quality of being direct
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
- real-timeOccurring without processing delay
- actionableAble to be acted upon
decision-making · triage · treatment · intervention · monitoring · management · protocol · quality control
diagnostic
Test to identify problems
meter · strip · analyzer · troponin · hemoglobin · A1C · urinalysis · lactate · coagulation · INR
bedside
Near the mattress
emergency · triage · ward · ICU · operating room · dental chair · home health · field · mobile · rural
device
Constructed tool or machine
- handheldDesigned for palm use
- portableAble to be carried
- biosensorBiological chemical detection device
microfluidic · smartphone · wireless · Bluetooth · connectivity · reader · digital · miniaturized · wearable · app
immediacy
Quality of being direct
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
- real-timeOccurring without processing delay
actionable · decision-making · triage · treatment · intervention · monitoring · management · protocol · quality control · calibration