The role of pharmacy professionals in point-of-care testing

Pharmacy professionals are fully committed to an interprofessional and person-centred approach to healthcare. Where the regulatory framework permits, a broad range of point-of-care (POC) tests can be performed at community pharmacies or clinical biology laboratories. POC tests can provide valuable information to support health-related decision making and reduce unnecessary presentations to general practitioners or emergency departments. POC tests may also be provided as part of a disease state management service to monitor the outcomes of treatment in people with chronic non-communicable diseases. In addition, pharmacy professionals can use POC tests to intervene and provide safe and quick pharmaceutical care in acute situations. Attendees will learn about: 1. The role of pharmacy professionals in point-of-care testing; 2. The importance of providing point-of-care testing services in the screening and management of chronic non-communicable diseases and acute situations; 3. Challenges and opportunities for pharmacists in addressing point-of-care testing services. Moderator: Daragh Connolly, Chair of the FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Practice - Ireland Panellists: Sherif Guorgui, President, FIP Community Pharmacy Section - Canada Julien Fonsart, Head of the Clinical Biology laboratory, Saint-Louis Lariboisiere University Hospitals, Greater Paris University Hospitals (APHP) - France Teresa Torres. General Director of GO FAR ANF - Portugal Efi Mantzourani, Reader in Pharmacy Practice / Research and Evaluation Lead in Choose Pharmacy, Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University / Primary Care, Digital Health and Care Wales, NHS Wales - United Kingdom