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Reducing the COVID-19 burden: diagnostics and the patient pathway

Tony Cambridge looks at a changing healthcare landscape as the service continues to respond to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and considers the important role of point-of-care tests and combination testing.

New models of care are now the main topic of discussion beyond SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and test availability. It has been clear for some time that healthcare must be delivered in a different way in order to preserve the core services within the healthcare landscape. Patients need to be assessed and managed under new protocols and in new locations in order to safeguard the acute and critical services provided by secondary and tertiary organisations.

The impact of a well-governed and accessible diagnostic testing programme is well known, both in hospitals and the community. Now more than any other time, the community settings can provide the support patients need, not only in identifying health conditions at the earliest opportunity, but to manage the progression and resolution of that condition; all without visiting secondary care establishments. In those situations, where secondary and acute care is required, effective diagnostic tools must be adopted in order to optimise care delivery and protect non-infected patients and staff.

Unseen impact of a pandemic

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Upcoming Events

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Participants’ Meeting: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy

Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield
24th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

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