GLUCOMETER ANNUAL COMPETENCY

Warning: going off topic on Nova meter and CAP proficiency surveys for glucose meters!

My desk's current state of disarray is 'exceeds unacceptable limits' if I have it in hard copy. I think I read it online from an email link to the published copy (such as Advance for Lab Administrators). We don't use Nova meters and we don't do PT for WT but I recently read a very interesting article written by Dr. Jeffrey Dubois (Nova) on this topic. I can't find it by searching key words in medical school library though to attach it. Nova users surely could get it from their local reps if interested.

FYI! Hope it's a good day for all of us in POCworld! Peggy

Jillian,

We are not under CAP.  We are TJC inspected, which I believe is why we don't need to meet that requirement.

Agree, Marcia! get out the 'your mileage may vary' emoticon  when it comes to this topic...although I'd rather discuss WT competency assessment all day long, compared to the US Presidential race.

And CAP just dropped the requirement for PT on waived glucose and PT/INR, effective 2017:

 Dated July 21, 2016 

Dear Laboratory Director,

This notice is to alert you that the College of American Pathologists' (CAP) Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP) will no longer require enrollment and participation in proficiency testing (PT) for waived whole blood glucose on glucose meters (ie, WB2/WBG) and waived whole blood Protime/INR (ie, WP10) beginning with the 2017 PT program year. Laboratories will be required to perform alternative performance assessment for these analytes.

TJC has not required PT for waived tests for some time, if ever. 

I've found direct observation to be one of the most important elements for competency assessment.  If I had to give up some of the elements it wouldn't be direct observation as this is is my opportunity to observe and correct errors.  If I was thinking of doing less in during competencies at a minimum I would perform the following (presently I assess all six elements):

1. Direct observation of routine patient test performance, specimen handling, processing and testing ( 2 patient samples)


2. Assessment of test performance through testing previously analyzed specimens, internal blind testing samples or external proficiency samples; and (I use Pt. samples, PT or QC material)


3. Assessment of problem solving skills (I use a quiz to satisfy this element)

Jade,

Unfortunately...yes. It's not my decision but I am going to keep bucking it.

Leah

Leah,

I am looking into adopting an annual competency process similar to yours for the Nova Stat glucometer. I'd like to have the education/quiz recorded in our online learning system and the QC recorded in TelCor- and have no paperwork to file for our nurses. But I'm wondering if not having something filed individually for every nurse would cause problems during inspection- what would I show an inspector who wants to see a competency assessment as part of a tracer? Have you had that come up during an inspection?