Description:
JFK Medical Center is a major health care complex delivering quality, cost effective health care to the West Palm Beach community in South Florida. Originally named John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital as the first memorial to our nation's 35th President, JFK Medical Center was founded in 1986 as a not-for-profit hospital of 150 beds.

After completion of a $76 million expansion, JFK Medical Center has evolved to a 424-bed facility featuring a world-renowned Heart Institute and an expanded Emergency Department and ICU.

JFK Medical Center is an affiliate of HealthTrust Purchasing Group (HCA), a group purchasing organization with nearly 700 acute care member hospitals.

Challenge:

• Implement point of care testing for blood gases and co-oximetry in key critical care areas within the hospital.
• Expedite test results to improve patient care and physician satisfaction.

Solution:
A team comprised of Pulmonary Services and Information Services management initiated a strategy to move stat testing of blood gases and co-oximetry from the main laboratory to point of care areas including the Emergency Department and MSICU/CVICU. After evaluating competitive analyzers, the team decided to partner with Nova Biomedical to implement their plan. The initial CAP inspection for this new lab was completed on 06/29/04. The JFK Pulmonary Blood Gas Laboratory received 100% with commendations with outstanding assistance from the Nova Biomedical Technical Support Group.

By August 2004, Nova Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress (CCX) Analyzers were operating in both the ED and MSICU/CVICU, as well as in strategic locations in two patient care areas. All four CCX analyzers are connected to the Nova Point of Care Manager (PDM) that receives and stores all patient test data, sample ID information, quality control data, and analyzer calibration records for instant retrieval and reporting. Test results are verified by the therapists and transmitted from the analyzers via the PDM and LIS to the Meditech HIS.

JFK's POC implementation is ongoing. A Nova Stat Profile pHOx Plus analyzer is under evaluation in the cardiovascular unit (CVICU) to facilitate faster turnaround with open-heart patients. The POC concept has already been well accepted by the cardiovascular surgeons, nursing staff, and respiratory therapists alike. With the pHOx Plus analyzer in the CV unit, the therapists no longer have to go next door to the MSICU run their blood gases thereby saving time and allowing them to focus on their patients. Moreover, the pHOx Plus analyzer provides wireless data transmission of test results to the LIS thereby allowing bedside use. The pHOx Plus also provides the ability to measure potassium in addition to the blood gases at the point of care.

Benefits Realized:
With the CCX and pHOx Plus analyzers in place, turnaround times have been reduced from as much as an hour or more to between 5 and 20 minutes depending upon the location of the analyzers.

According to Janice Rousseau, RRT Supervisor and BG Coordinator, "point of care testing has improved the initiation of treatment for the patients thereby decreasing length of stay in some instances." Although it is too early to tell, it appears that the implementation of POC at JFK has the potential to significantly reduce patient testing costs.