Quality assurance for blood glucose monitoring in health-care facilities.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the practice of quality assurance (QA) for capillary blood glucose monitoring (CBGM) in health-care facilities.


METHODS
Descriptive survey data were collected from a purposive sample of 378 health-care providers, who use CBGM and direct CBGM QA programs, from acute- and chronic-care facilities in 47 states. Subjects completed a 36-item multiple-choice survey about QA practices for CBGM by providers.


RESULTS
Only 53.4% of respondents reported a multidisciplinary advisory group to assist in decision making for the CBGM program. Almost one-third reported no clinical laboratory involvement in their QA program. Over 70% of respondents reported inclusion of all clinical areas in the CBGM program. Comparison of results of the same patient sample by laboratory reference method and CBGM system was done routinely by only 43.6% of respondents. Scheduled proficiency testing was reported by 33.4%. Only 5.8% of respondents reported the coexistence of a CBGM advisory group, full participation of the laboratory, and quarterly proficiency testing. Over 50% of respondents reported a patient charge for CBGM.


CONCLUSIONS
When survey results are compared with regulatory and accreditation standards, it is evident that a wide gap exists. Resources to bridge this gap may be scarce in many facilities. Further research is needed to determine minimal QA standards for CBGM that provide for optimal patient outcomes.
Walker
E A
EA
Diabetes Research and Training Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.
Paduano
D J
DJ
Shamoon
H
H
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000592:standards; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose