Enhancing Patient Outcomes: The Role of Point-of-Care Testing in Community Pharmacies

Authors

Manaswi Chigurupati

Abstract

Point-of-care testing (POCT) has emerged as a revolutionary diagnostic tool that allows the diagnosis and monitoring of the patients’ health status immediately where they are without the need of sending a sample to the pathology lab. The use of POCT enabled prompt decision-making, personalized patient care, and improved medication adherence, leading to better health outcomes. POCT has significantly enhanced patient outcomes in the healthcare system, including community pharmacies. Community pharmacies, being highly accessible healthcare hubs, are ideally positioned to implement POCT. Overall POCT has helped to bridge certain gaps in healthcare delivery.

This review explores the pivotal role of POCT focusing on its impact on the timely diagnosis and management of various health conditions including infectious diseases. Furthermore, this review also examines the challenges and prospects of POCT in community pharmacies, highlighting the need for standardized protocols, adequate training and documentation, and robust quality control measures to maximize its benefits. Conclusively, the use of Overall POCT in community pharmacies holds great potential for enhancing patient care and advancing public health.

Keywords

Point-of-care testing, community pharmacy, patient outcomes, diagnostic services, non-communicable diseases, infectious disease screening, pharmacist-led testing, healthcare accessibility.

Enhancing Patient Outcomes: The Role of Point-of-Care Testing in Community Pharmacies. Manaswi Chigurupati. 2025. IJIRCT, Volume 11, Issue 1. Pages 1-7. https://www.ijirct.org/viewPaper.php?paperId=2503104