Effectiveness of Point-of-Care Testing in Hospitalized Patients: Impact on Diagnostic Timeliness, Patient Management, and Hospital Efficiency

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of point-of-care testing (POCT) in hospitalized patients, focusing on its impact on diagnostic turnaround times, clinical outcomes, and overall hospital efficiency.

Methods: A retrospective cohort design was employed, analyzing data from adult patients who received either POCT or traditional laboratory testing for glucose, cardiac biomarkers, or infectious disease markers. Turnaround times, treatment initiation, therapy adjustments, length of stay, and intervention requirements were compared between the two groups.

Results: POCT significantly reduced turnaround times for diagnostic results compared to traditional laboratory methods. Patients in the POCT group experienced quicker initiation of treatment, more frequent therapy adjustments, shorter hospital stays, and fewer required interventions. The average turnaround times for POCT were 0.5 to 1.5 hours, whereas traditional testing ranged from 4 to 8 hours. Hospital length of stay decreased by 1.8 days, and the number of interventions was reduced by 1.2 per patient in the POCT group.

Conclusion: POCT enhances diagnostic efficiency, improves patient management, and contributes to better hospital efficiency by providing rapid results that facilitate timely clinical decisions and reduce hospital resource utilization.