Has anyone encountered hand held battery operated devices for measurements
of carbon monoxide using breath. This type of device is being used for
instructional purposes in smoking cessation programs. An example device
being Micro Medical's Smoke Check. Where such devices are spreading around
the community and starting to make appearances on the hospital wards under
such cessation initiatives, what are the views on how this is handled by the
POCT departments? Have any of you encountered this health initiative in your
settings?
The suitability of these devices for ward settings taken with the
probability of someone using a device for other scenarios is worrying
especially in the admission sites where follow-up action may result. The
scheme I have encountered seems well set up with a training, calibrations
from a central source, and sending data off for national statistics. As the
results are stated in bandings of CO as ppm and used for motivational
encouragement when stopping smoking, does this need POCT running the system
from in-house or assisting from the outside or even to be left alone.
I would appreciate your views on this issue.
Tim Hill
POCT Department,
Frenchay Hospital,
Frenchay,
Bristol, BS16 1LE.
0117 - 9701212 ext-2800
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