Introduction: This session was designed to teach OB-GYN and pathology residents the concepts behind regulatory requirements for laboratory testing in clinical settings. Point-of-care (POC) testing and provider-performed microscopy (PPM) are procedures done frequently in the ambulatory and in-patient setting, but residents are not exposed to the rule set and regulations behind them. Pathology residents do not regularly interact with clinical residents and may not understand the clinical environment in which POC testing and PPM are occurring. We utilized a case-based approach to teach the concepts, as well as skills stations to teach hands-on tasks. Methods: The 2-hour session began with a 10-minute introduction and orientation of participants to the flow of events and to setting rules and expectations. Three case-based discussions occurred, each taking 30 minutes. One of the participants read a case aloud, the case was discussed by the group, and residents were asked to answer a series of questions. OB-GYN and pathology attending physicians participated as facilitators in the discussion. After the discussion was complete, OB-GYN and pathology residents paired up to perform a hands-on skill station corresponding to each case. The session concluded with the participants making remarks on take home messages and filling out feedback forms on the session. Results: We carried out this session with our own OB-GYN and pathology residents at New York University in October 2014. It was well received, generating robust discussion. Residents expressed improved understanding of the POC testing and PPM, regulatory requirements (including policies and procedures), quality control, certification and maintenance of competency, result interpretation, knowledge of supervision, and ability to perform POC testing and PPM as demonstrated by each resident in the hands-on skills stations. Participants also made several suggestions on how to utilize this session in the future, for example, to include elements such as the hands-on portion in the intern boot camp. Discussion: As a result of this session, residents are now able to understand and perform POC testing and PPM.

Case-Based, Interdisciplinary, Pathology, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Point of Care Testing (POC), Provider-Performed Microscopy Procedures (PPMP), Wet Mount, Urine Pregnancy Test, Urine Dipstick, Rupture of Membranes, OBGYN, OBGYN Residents, Pathology Residents

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

1. Understand what point-of-care (POC) testing and provider-performed microscopy (PPM) are.
2. Understand regulations of POC testing and PPM, including policies and procedures, quality control, certification and maintenance of competency, result interpretation (including workup of false positives), and further workup.
3. Perform POC testing and PPM (urine pregnancy test, urine dipstick, wet mount, and rupture of membranes microscopy exam).
4. Understand their role in the supervision of POC testing.

© 2015 Lerner et al.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Lerner V, Mcvoy L, Aguero-Rosenfeld M, Rapkiewicz A, Winkel A. Clinical laboratory medicine — understanding point-of-care testing and provider-performed microscopy in clinical practice: case-based curriculum for OBGYN and pathology residents. MedEdPORTAL. 2015;11:10109. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10109