Order for ACT Low Range ACT testing on the Hemochron

(excuse me while I fume silently about the 'wisdom' of some regulatory organization standards!!   :)

Anyhoo, either JC or CAP drove us round and round about that issue some years ago.  Essentially the explanation we gave (from our Anesthesia Director) is that "the Anesthesia Record is prescriptive in nature and dictates everything applicable to patient treatment during that time, including any POC testing."  They backed down.  Of course this is probably one of those things that will depend on the inspector, or whoever's desk it lands on, but that sufficed then.  This was also at least 10 years ago.  However, I would think it is only more applicable now, given the explosion of POC testing.

Thank you! My thoughts exactly.

My experience was the same as James.  Testing of the ACT is based on protocol and we had those available to show them.  They were satisfied with that.

After reading this, I double checked with our depts that run these.  The provider writes a note or task to run ACTLR with a directive...if on heparin drip, run every X hours; if sheath pull, check after so long with a target before pulling sheath; and in our Cath Lab, the provider is instructing staff during the case to perform testing per the protocol.  Hopefully that covers it adequately. 

Ours is also based on protocol.  No one has asked......yet.

My thoughts were the same as James. Most of our POC orders, including ACTs, are based on order sets, which are prescriptive in nature as well. I'm hoping to interface our Hemochrons at some point and it will also be an unsolicited interface, so I appreciate the heads up on this.