IS Update
Inpatient Glucose Test Results Automatically Entered in BICS, LMR
Results from bedside glucose testing now are entered directly into BICS and patient records immediately and electronically following the successful completion of the point of care glucose project this summer. This effort improves patient safety and care quality while facilitating review of results by direct care providers and clinical researchers.
With point of care glucose testing, nurses performing a bedside test simply scan the patient’s wristband for positive identification, perform the test with the glucometer and then dock the glucometer on its cradle. The test results automatically download into BICS and LMR, for simple and immediate review by physicians.
“Previously, when physicians needed glucose test results, they would make a phone call for someone to check hand-written results on the flow sheet,” said Marjorie Parker, corporate team leader for BWH Clinical Labs & Ancillary Systems at PHS IS. “Now it’s available through LMR.”
In addition to eliminating the potential for errors endemic to hand writing, the point of care glucose testing project will provide hospital leadership and clinical researchers with data on diabetes management and care from throughout the hospital.
“Until now, we could only review results for individual patients, but now we have access to all glucose testing at a glance,” said endocrinologist Alexander Turchin, MD. “If we implement a new protocol, the new system allows us to easily monitor its impact hospital-wide.”