Point of Care, Enhancing Clinical Effectiveness Laboratory Comes to the Free Clinic

The Free Clinic of Franklin County at Bernard Healthcare Center, is one of three clinics nationwide, that recently received a Point of Care Laboratory supplied by Becton-Dickinson, a global medical technology company. The laboratory grant was awarded to the clinic through a competitive process put out by Heart to Heart International and the National Association of Free Clinics. The laboratory equipment, plus a year of testing supplies, is valued at over $40,000. In addition, expert staff from Heart to Heart International came to the clinic in June and spent two days training the clinic's employees, volunteers, and students in the proper use and maintenance of the new equipment.

Last fall, the Free Clinic's Executive Director submitted a proposal to Heart to Heart and NAFC explaining how an on-site laboratory would improve patient care at the Franklin County practice. The proposal made the first cut, and in March, representatives from Heart to Heart conducted a site visit to determine if there was adequate space and organizational support for the point of care laboratory at the Free Clinic. In April, the Point of Care, Enhancing Clinical Effectiveness laboratory was awarded to the Free Clinic of Franklin County along with two other NAFC clinics, one in North Carolina and one in Wyoming.

The laboratory equipment provided allows the clinic to do several in-house tests including - Influenza A and B, lipid profile, automated urinalysis, metabolic blood profile, and hemoglobin A1C. The availability of these lab tests on-site has enabled the clinic to provide test results to patients while they are still in the office and to make immediate adjustments to treatments and/or medications, rather than having to send patients to the hospital lab for a blood draw, waiting a day or two for results, and then trying to track down patients to make necessary adjustments. On average, the on-site lab has decreased the wait time for test results by more than 24 hours.

The Point of Care laboratory has definitely enhanced the clinical effectiveness of patient care at the Free Clinic. Clinicians are now able to use test results to adjust medications on the spot, preventing potentially life-threatening delays. Serious complications and unnecessary visits to the hospital emergency department have been minimized. Being able to do tests on-site rather than at the hospital lab also ensures that all patients will have the laboratory testing they need to properly monitor their chronic conditions.

The Free Clinic of Franklin County is extremely grateful to Becton-Dickinson, Heart to Heart International, and the National Association of Free Clinics for this opportunity to enhance and improve the care provided to patients.