Using Glucose Meters in Hospital Environments: Some Challenges and Resolutions for Point-of-Care Testing

AbstractDuring the last 40 years, glucose meters have played a pivotal role in the management of diabetes. Furthermore, an awareness that controlling hyperglycemia in the critically ill can lead to better patient outcomes and even decreased length of stay has resulted in tight glycemic control protocols being implemented in leading hospitals worldwide but particularly in North America and Europe. This important role for glucose meters has demanded more accurate and precise instruments from manufacturers but also better management of point-of-care testing from hospitals and healthcare facilities so to reduce infections from shared instruments that would adversely affect patient care. This review summarizes the findings that have resulted in the prominence of glucose meters in hospital environments and discusses how some of the challenges in their management can be resolved.
Source: Point of Care: The Journal of Near-Patient Testing and Technology - Category: Pathology Tags: Editorials Source Type: research