Evaluation of bedside blood glucose monitoring by the phlebotomy team in an acute general care hospital.
A feasibility study was undertaken to evaluate laboratory phlebotomists performing bedside glucose monitoring (BGM) over a 3-month period on a medical and surgical floor. Specific questions included: feasibility of providing testing on a 24-h basis, accuracy, appropriate utilization, effect on patient care, and an analysis of cost. In all, 1975 tests were performed on 114 patients. BGM results were within 15% of the laboratory's result 97% of the time. Patient and physician satisfaction was high. Although the cost of BGM is slightly higher than a laboratory glucose test, its use appeared to reduce the length of hospital stay by 0.47 days. Practical information on initiating a highly successful BGM program is provided.
Johnston
J M
JM
Department of Medicine, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
Grondziowski
P
P
Windisch
R M
RM
Eder
R A
RA
Lytle
L
L
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006769:Hospitals, General; D016519:Hospitals, Religious; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010414:Pennsylvania; D018962:Phlebotomy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D001786:Blood Glucose