JULY - 20196July - 01 - 2019, volume 03 - Issue 10 Published by ValleyMedia, Inc. Managing EditorAlex D'souzaEditorial StaffVisualizerIssac GeorgeAlbert RozarioSalesRich Gonsalvesrich@medicaltechoutlook.com510.972.5010Contact usEmailPhone:510 230 0396 Fax:510-894-8405sales@medicaltechoutlook.comeditor@medicaltechoutlook.commarketing@medicaltechoutlook.comCalvin James Merlin WatsonJoe Philip Laura PintoTo subscribe to MedicalTech OutlookVisit www.medicaltechoutlook.com Copyright © 2019 ValleyMedia Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the magazine and accordingly, no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof.*Some of the Insights are based on the interviews with respective CIOs and CXOs to our editorial staffAlex D'souzaManaging Editoreditor@Medicaltechoutlook.comThe overall impact of in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) on modern healthcare isn't easy to quantify. But the one contribution of IVDs that clinicians, radiologists, caregivers, and patients are eternally great for, is the role played by IVDs in the emergence of point-of-care (POC) testing. Due to the mass adoption of handheld patient monitoring devices and cloud-based EMRs, first responders, radiologists, nurses, and other healthcare providers can now use various POC testing tools such as blood glucose meters, thermometers, home pregnancy tests, and rapid strep tests, to swiftly diagnose their patients from anywhere in the world. The strep tests have proven crucial in allowing patients to receive early treatment, avoiding the risks aligned with misdiagnosis.POC testing has also proven to be a blessing in the event of major road accidents. Besides reducing the time needed to diagnose patient injuries, POC testing has minimized emergency room overcrowding due to the ease of information available across handheld devices. Also, patients--especially ones suffering from immobility-- are no longer needed to return to their hospitals for follow-up visits. They could follow a few simple steps and share the results of various tests with their healthcare providers, all within a matter of minutes. The benefits of POC testing equally extend to the operation theatre. Some of them include rapid decision-making and triage, and the reduction of operation times, high-dependency, emergency room time, postoperative care time, outpatient clinic visits, and the number of hospital beds required at a facility. More than anything, POC testing is ensuring the optimal use of professional time and the elimination of antimicrobial medication. For many years, IVDs have been popularly referred to as the "silent champion" of the healthcare landscape. However, that title is no longer relevant owing to the wide scale utility of portable POC testing devices across the world. The most tried-and-tested resource to prevent diseases and effectively manage diseases, IVDs, influence approximately two-thirds of clinical decision-making, while accounting for only two percent of healthcare expenditure. In recent years, healthcare professionals, manufacturers and even regulators have stopped understating the value-add of IVDs in their fight against both active and emerging epidemics. Leafing through this special edition will allow strategic planners and practice leaders to comprehend the horizons of opportunity for translating trends into business profits.POC Testing is Saving Lives, Preventing DiseasesSarah FernandesEDITORIAL
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