Image: An emergency physician is measuring the blood pressure of an injured boy on a stretcher; Copyright: PantherMedia/Arne Trautmann

Topic of the Month June 2021

Emergency medicine: point-of-care diagnostic at the deployment site

The sooner diagnosis can be made during an emergency, the faster the patient receives help. While most diagnostics still take place at the hospital, emergency physicians use more and more mobile devices directly at the deployment site. This is how they can save precious time. We take a look at some point-of-care applications in our Topic of the Month.

Faster treatment thanks to point-of-care diagnostics – in emergencies and beyond

Image: Close-up of an ultrasound head in the gloved hand of a physician; Copyright: PantherMedia/Bork

Making an informed and immediate treatment decision near or at the patient’s bedside – point-of-care testing (also known as POCT) makes this possible. Unlike stationary devices, special exam rooms or other service infrastructure, POC diagnostic devices offer a multitude of benefits including more flexibility, faster results, and lower costs.

Read the article about point-of-care diagnostics here

Point-of-care ultrasound helps in emergency diagnosis

Image: emergency, a patient is being put in an ambulance; Copyright: PantherMedia / HayDmitriy

Medical emergencies require quick action and prompt decisions: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable diagnostic tool available to the emergency physician. Rather than relying on his/her gut feeling, the device answers specific clinical questions that narrow differentials. The question is, in which settings does POCUS deliver the biggest benefits?

Read the interview with Dr. Achim Ehrt here

Point-of-care tests: rapid diagnosis in emergency situations

Image: A swab is lying across a sample vial; Copyright: PantherMedia/fotoquique

In emergency medicine, a faster diagnosis leads to a faster treatment of the patient. Point-of-care test solutions can provide immediate on-site insights into the patient’s condition. COVID-19 adds another dimension: the devices can provide a level of security and safety – one that goes beyond intensive care.

Read the interview with Jürgen Neumann here

Video

LampSeq – Scalable and cost-effective mass test

Vaccinations and tests once again enable safe gatherings during the Corona pandemic. But unfortunately, existing test technologies are not suitable for every situation: A lot of time is lost for example due to testing at schools and the workplace. Now the University Hospital Bonn has developed a new kind of test which has numerous advantages over existing technologies. We talked about "LampSeq" with Dr. Kerstin Ludwig and Prof. Jonathan Schmid-Burgk.