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Article
September 2007
Fetal-to-neonatal transition: Part 2
Part 2: Red flags
The transition from fetus to newborn is a process of rapid physiological adaptation that is sometimes delayed by complications. Most newborns complete the process of transition with little or no delay.
These infants may demonstrate normal transitional findings, including tachypnea and tachycardia, ...
Neonatology
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Article
September 2007
Patient safety 2007
In 2005, acutecaretesting.org interviewed Dr Michael Astion, an active spokesperson for patient safety and reduction of lab errors, on the main issues surrounding the topic. Since then, a lot has changed… or has it? In a follow-up interview with Astion, acutecaretesting.org gauges the status of patient safety year...
Point-of-care testing
Information management
Process optimization
Glucose
Article
July 2007
Is there a QC Gap?
This essay is a follow-up to the 2006 series expressing concern that there is a widespread gap between QC theory and QC practice. Now we are giving you, the reader, the opportunity to rate your own QC practice and to help prove or disprove that gap.
If the QC theories generally recommended by recognized QC experts ...
Quality assurance
Article
July 2007
Ionized calcium
Homeostatic mechanisms ensure that in health the
extracellular fluid (ECF) concentration of electrolytes, including
calcium, is maintained within well-defined limits. Abnormality in
ECF calcium concentration can have profound adverse effects.
The
most common means of assessing calcium status is to measure total...
Preanalytical phase
Electrolytes
Lactate
Hemoglobins
Kidneys/fluids
Article
July 2007
Fetal-to-neonatal transition: What is normal and what is not? Part 1
Part 1: The physiology of transition
The transition from fetus to neonate is a critical time
of physiological adaptation. While the majority of term infants
complete this process in a smooth and organized fashion, some
infants experience a delay in transition or exhibit symptoms of
underlying disease.
Careful...
Neonatology
Blood gases/acid-base
Glucose
Article
June 2007
Want to improve patient safety?
In most hospitals, the amount of nursing time spent on actual patient care is only 33 %, while problem solving consumes 40 % of their time. That’s the bad news. The good news is that inverting this ratio may be easier than you think.
According to Dr John Kenagy and David Sundahl of the US-based Kenagy & Associates,...
Point-of-care testing
Preanalytical phase
Process optimization
Article
May 2007
How to reduce analyzer downtime and improve processes
Technology is available worldwide to help us carry out
diversified tasks and work in an easier, faster, and more efficient
way.
Furthermore, technology can help us prevent analyzer downtime
and failures that may have serious consequences for both business
and patients. This article gives an overview of some of the...
Process optimization
Quality assurance
Article
May 2007
Standards Provide a Quality Approach to Blood Gas Analysis
Blood gas analysis is a complex field that has a direct impact on patient care in a critical care environment. Healthcare professionals consistently emphasize high-quality results in order to properly treat patients, and recognize the need and usefulness of quality standards.
Using a path-of-workflow analysis as part ...
Quality assurance
Article
April 2007
The use of heparin in preparing samples for blood gas analysis
The significance of good practice during the pretesting
phase of clinical laboratory investigation cannot be
overemphasized.
The production of high-quality, accurate results
which are clinically useful depends as much on practice before the
patient’s sample reaches the laboratory as it does on the
analytical phase...
Preanalytical phase
Quality assurance
Glucose
Article
April 2007
Heel or back of the hand?
Reprinted and translated by permission of Danske
Bioanalytikere, dbio from "Fra hæl eller håndryg", by Jytte
Kristensen, dbio, vol no 4, 2007, pp 8-11. Copyright 2007
by dbio. Translated by Radiometer Medical
ApS.
Norwegian and Danish biomedical laboratory scientists
disagree on best practice when collecting blood...
Neonatology
Preanalytical phase
Glucose