Essay Example on Benefits of Point of Care Technologies for Patient Care

Introduction

Point of Care Technologies relates to the set of technologies that are adopted at the healthcare facility aimed at improving the healthcare outcomes on the patients (Morley et al., 2018). As such, the Point of care technologies is often beneficial to both the care providers as well as the patients. Some of the most common Points of Care Technology include pregnancy tests, rapid HIV tests, hemoglobin tests, blood glucose monitors as well as urine dipsticks, among many others (Liyanage et al., 2019). This paper shall assess, analyze, and evaluate the use of blood glucose monitors and the related ethical and legal considerations associated with their adoption in the health care facilities.

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Analysis of the Use of Blood Glucose Meters.

The test of the blood sugar level is one of the commendable methods of understanding diabetes as well as the effect of various foods and medication on diabetes. Adequate track-keeping the blood sugar level is helpful to both the patient and the doctor in terms of the formulation of the management plan for the condition. The emergent technology in checking the blood sugar level is the use of blood glucose monitors or glucometers (Togashi et al., 2016). A glucometer is a small handheld device that is often used in the determination of the approximate glucose concentration in the body. In the recent past, electric glucose meters have been adopted to replace the glucose strips (Morley et al., 2018).

The glucometer measures the blood glucose concentration through a chemical reaction that indicates the glucose levels expressed as mg/dl. It is often a portable device that could be used even at home in measuring the diabetes levels of the patients (Liyanage et al., 2019). Glucometers often come in different types depending on the diabetes type to be monitored. For instance, type 1diabetes must include features that are easier to use than the standard two glucometers (Farhan et al., 2017). For adult patients, it is preferable that they are provided with easily grabbed devices to avoid possible dropping during operations (Chlup et al., 2013).

The Functioning of the Glucometer.

The initial step in the use of glucometer involves the conversion of the glucose concentration into current signals or voltage, which is made possible by special strips. The sensor in the device uses silver and platinum electrodes in forming part of the electric circuit. In this process, the hydrogen peroxide is electrolyzed (Togashi et al., 2016). The flowing current subsequently results in the measurement of the concentration of hydrogen peroxide; thus, the concentration of glucose concentration is also given.

The sensor that is often used in the glucometer is based on the electrode of glucose oxide (Farhan et al., 2017). The glucose oxide is often immobilized in the platinized activated carbon electrode. Any patient could adopt glucometers with a blood glucose problem; thus, there is no well-defined client population. As such, all diabetic patients can choose the use of glucometer (Higioka et al., 2016).

Evaluation of Glucometer

It has been noted by several scientists that the glucometers consume low power. This is because most of the glucometers today are powered by battery; thus, only a little LCD power is consumed. Furthermore, the strip glucometers are also more cost-effective than electric glucometers. However, the electric glucometers are more efficient and portable compared to the strip glucometers (Chlup et al., 2013). Because the patients can monitor and check their blood sugar levels at their leisure, the patients are relieved from having to travel frequently to the healthcare facilities for arterial blood drawing and testing (Higioka et al., 2016).

Furthermore, the glucometer enhances quick rendering of treatment/ therapy to various homes, this delocalizing healthcare service provision. Again, since the blood samples required for the glucometer is smaller compared to the amount needed for the automated laboratories, the glucometer devices help the patient in reducing the eminent loss of blood during testing for diabetes (Liyanage et al., 2019). Most importantly, glucometers are generally cost-effective in terms of treatment and care for diabetes patients. This is because there are few parties involved compared to the standard laboratory system where insurance provides, physician and the healthcare facility all have to be involved testing and monitoring the blood glucose levels in patients (Na, 2013).

However, there are some vulnerabilities associated with the use of glucometers in testing for blood glucose levels. For instance, the device is often associated with essential challenges of dropping, breaking as well as compromised accuracy of the measurement (Togashi et al., 2016). Again, the device is most often associated with cross contaminations from biohazards as well as inaccuracies emanating from poor storage, use of deformed vials as well as increased humidity among others (Chlup et al., 2013). The purpose of the glucometer is often faced with system and manufacturing issues such as poor user interface, non-friendly, and inferior manuals, which are not easily understood by laypersons (Farhan et al., 2017).

Legal and Ethical Issues with Glucometers

There are various legal and ethical considerations in the manufacturers, purchase, and use of glucometers. For instance, it is a legal requirement that the sponsors and the manufactures of the glucometers submit applications that demonstrate that they comply with various regulatory requirements (Na, 2013). Ethically, the broken, faulty, and used glucometers must be properly disposed to prevent contamination and environmental pollution.

References

Chlup, R., Doubravova, B., Bartek, J., Zapletalova, J., Krystynik, O., & Prochazka, V. (2013). Practical assessment of diabetes control using personal glucometers (CONTOURLINK, Bayer, Germany; CALLA, Well, Austria; LINUS, Agamatrix, USA). Disease Markers, 35(6), 895-905.

Farhan, S. A., Shaikh, A. T., Zia, M., Kahara, B. R., Muneer, R., Rehman, M., ... & Tanveer, H. (2017). Prevalence and predictors of home use of glucometers in diabetic patients. Cureus, 9(6).

Higioka, A. S., Rudolf-Oliveira, R. C. M., Martinello, F., & Bazzo, M. L. (2016). Analytical performance of glucometers in a tertiary care hospital. Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 21(2), 143-149.

Liyanage, J. H., Dissanayake, H. A., Gamage, K. K. K., Keerthisena, G. S. P., Ihalagama, I. R. H. S., Weeratunga, P. N., ... & Katulanda, G. W. (2019). Evaluation of the accuracy and precision of glucometers currently used in Sri Lanka. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 13(3), 2184-2188.

Morley, L. A., Gomez, T. H., Goldman, J. L., Flores, R., & Robinson, M. A. (2018). Accuracy of 5 Point-of-Care Glucometers in C57BL/6J Mice. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 57(1), 44-50.

Na, Y. (2013). Self-monitoring Glucometers: How Accurate Are They?. Journal of Korean Diabetes, 14(3).

Togashi, Y., Shirakawa, J., Okuyama, T., Yamazaki, S., Kyohara, M., Miyazawa, A., ... & Terauchi, Y. (2016). Evaluation of the appropriateness of using glucometers for measuring the blood glucose levels in mice. Scientific reports, 6(1), 1-9.