Multi-Purpose, Multi-Role POCCs?

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Very curious about other POCCs in multi-role positions. Wish we could make surveys here about common items, hot topics and trends.

Are any of you in charge of your facility's Proficiency Testing Program?
Other roles?
Still work the bench? How much?
Have backups or helpers?
Are you part of management/administration? salaried? non-union?
Do additional responsibilities cause slower responses to your facility's POCT needs?

11 Replies

Breana Birmingham

Thu Jan 09, 2025 at 3:51PM

I am FT POCC only and I no longer work the bench. I do not have any helpers or true back ups. When I was on maternity leave a couple years ago I had to train someone to cover while I was gone. The other lab supervisors know very minimal to assist if I am on vacation, but really I cover everything. I do often assist our lab director with various other projects including helping manage staff when other supervisors are on LOA or vacation. This often includes staff schedule, daily sick call coverage, etc. These "other" tasks definietly take away from the time I have to complete POCT tasks, but as a member of the management team I help where I am needed.

Tara Slater

Thu Jan 09, 2025 at 5:10PM

300 bed Hospital. I am the only POCC on staff. I work 50% on the bench but i am moving to 25% bench slowly. When we have shortages my hours are used as a schedule fix. I am also the Quality Assurance Coordinator and Safety for my lab. I do not have anyone trained as a back up. When on vacation I am required to over stock areas that have POC testing. I have a binder at my desk labeled "If I'm hit by a Bus" so that people can walk thru my processes if needed. It is very detailed notes. Due to working on the bench but still have a 40 hour a week job to do i had 281 hours of over time working 4 days a week. A lot of long shifts. but at least I'm hourly. Due to working the bench and numerous hats always some task undone or delayed.

James Beck

Thu Jan 09, 2025 at 6:09PM

Part of large health system (>20 hospitals); my facility is a 250 bed hospital + offsite Surgical Center, only POCC. Oversight of Respiratory/Blood Gas as well. Formerly also included 3 offsite Family Health clinics, but they were removed due to restructuring. Up until approximately 1 year ago, I also covered bench time in main lab, ranging from every other weekend at its worst, to once every sixth weekend at its best. As I have always identified as a lab scientist at heart :), this was mostly my choice. Plus it kept me very familiar with up and coming technology as well as LIS/interface functionality. That has benefitted me in the long run as I have taken on an additional role as IT/interface specialist for POC for our entire hospital system, in addition to maintaining POCC responsibilities for my home facility. However, with the additional system POC responsibilities, it was time to give up the bench time. Continuing that line of thought, I think POC will only truly move into its own when it is no longer seen as a side responsibility of the laboratory and truly claims its space as worthy of full-time dedication - or more. For those that still have main lab responsibilities, next best is to at least insist on hourly compensation as opposed to salaried, as Tara pointed out.

Ken Charpie

Thu Jan 09, 2025 at 6:30PM

Such an interesting variety so far!
114 bed level 3 trauma center with extensive cardiac surgery program, specialized wound care center. I oversee five moderate complexity test systems and five waived test systems throughout. I am also in charge of the Proficiency Testing program. I have a manager backup for POCT and Proficiency Testing. I still work the bench at least 8 hours per week (every other weekend), often more due to staffing. Most hospital staff think that I am administration or management and are shocked when they find me in the lab. MLS Students are shocked when they train with me... "you know everyone and go everywhere!" Also thankful to be hourly. Knowing what I do now, I would refuse a salaried POCC position due to my concerns about the difficult workload that must be constantly re-balanced.

This is my sixth year in POCT and it seems to me that POCT is moving into its prime... very slowly. Equipment costs, reimbursements, regulatory challenges, staffing and lack of support have kept our field from growing faster, I think. It's painful but I'm glad I ended up in this very unique area of lab medicine. After growing my expertise in POCT I couldn't imagine working in a different one, despite all of the craziness of managing a program.

I really hope our industry moves towards more full-time hourly POCCs with more support. Seems like almost all of the POCCs I meet (especially at smaller facilities) feel very behind on their tasks. We have to keep advocating for support for our POCT programs and ourselves!

James Beck

Thu Jan 09, 2025 at 6:52PM

Sounds like you have found your niche, Ken. That is a good thing, as it is not for every laboratorian, to be sure. I have been in POC for about 25 years and in the lab overall for nearly double that, and I do see things moving in the right direction regarding POC advocation. Good people like you in the field will make sure that continues.

Karin Gehringer

Fri Jan 10, 2025 at 7:33AM

I am the POCC, Technical Consultant (10 clinics are mine the other 20 clinics have other Technical Consultants), "Laboratory Coordinator", Laboratory Safety Officer and I work the bench 3 days a week plus cover holidays and rotate weekends. I have 40 years of experience yet paid as a Med Tech 1 because I am not a "Section Head" here. I have asked for my role to be reclassified (and provided the job description) but the Lab Director hasn't done so, although she does listen to my concerns and seems supportive. Definitely can't finish things or address issues in the manner that I would like to. POCT is definitely growing and I'm pushing for integration wherever possible to reduce errors at these ambulatory sites. I have some backup but it's only if I'm on PTO, otherwise it's me : )

Erica Lowery

Fri Jan 10, 2025 at 7:58AM

Ahh the POCC role. We know a little bit about everything throughout the entire organization. I am one of 2 POCC Technical consultants and I've held this role probably the longest (5 years) since we've had the POCC role in my hospital, since about 2011. I like to call it controlled chaos. My position is salaried which is nuts...........it took a long time for me to make myself leave so many things undone after an 8 hour day because it will still be there tomorrow. My facility is about 250 beds with 5 waived test systems and 2 nonwaived test systems. I also oversee 3 Hematology/Oncology labs off site. POCC is in charge of the PT program for all of the POC test systems...........my favorite task is to harass operators to run survey samples. I do not work the bench even thought I wish I did sometimes because I have to take a weekend call for the entire lab every quarter and it would be easier for me to come in and work instead of finding weekend co

Erica Lowery

Fri Jan 10, 2025 at 8:03AM

Sorry didn't finish my sentence. I meant to say finding weekend coverage. The POCC doesn't get enough credit for the MANY things we do for everyone. I also write validation plans for new test systems, coordinate with IT for everything and teach Glucometer training once a month to the newly hired RNs. You name it and the POCC does it, that's how I look at this job. Not management either, I work under the Core Lab Operations Manager who usually knows very little about Point of Care. It's nice to hear from other POCCs! Thank you for bringing this up Ken!

Laura Galindo

Mon Jan 13, 2025 at 8:34AM

I have been the POC almost 10 years. I am responsible for the quality program, as well as I check in the Proficiency samples. Last major component of my function is LIS. I take on call for LIS every other weekend. I am the lead for the newborn screen program in the laboratory. I trained a med tech to cover me when I go on vacation for the emergencies. I am not salaried. I oversee 4 moderate complex systems, and about 6 waived systems. I have 4 offsite clinics I am responsible for as well. I wish they would think about hiring a per diem, part time to help.

Cindy Engbert

Mon Jan 13, 2025 at 8:56AM

I am the only POCC for a small rural hospital. I also oversee the waived testing in 10 clinics, and PPM in one clinic. Our hospital point of care testing menu is small (glucose, eye pH, ACT-LR). I also coordinate the phlebotomy training and competency for the system. Some days I feel like phlebotomy takes over a lot of my responsibilities. I do not work on the bench any more. I do not have a true "backup" person, but the nursing supervisors have been trained to troubleshoot glucose meter results. My position is a flex full-time position (64-80 hours per pay period), and is hourly. I help out with various reporting, and competency documentation in the main lab.

Danyel Olson

Wed Jan 15, 2025 at 8:59AM

This is so interesting! I have been in POC for 15 years - 8 as POCC and 7 as lead tech. Two hospital system with >350 beds - level 1 trauma, ECMO, large neuro and cardiac surgery program, 2 NICUs. I also oversee our ambulatory surgery center, off site NICU and multiple specialty clinics. I am the only POCC - I do have a lead 2-3 days/pay period on the main campus and 2 days on the other. I am salaried. Our POCCs have never worked the bench. LIS takes weekend call and only reaches out occasionally if needed. I do lead or help with different quality projects for the main lab but that's more of a me thing, because I enjoy it.

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Multi-Purpose, Multi-Role POCCs?