Urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, phosphate, citrate, oxalate, and uric acid by healthy schoolchildren using a 12-h collection protocol.

BACKGROUND: Improving knowledge about normal urine composition in children is important for early prevention of lithiasis. We describe urinary excretion values of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphate (P), citrate (Cit), uric acid (Ur), and oxalate (Ox) in healthy children with and without a family history of lithiasis, using a 12-h urine collection protocol. METHODS: Urine samples were obtained from 184 children (5-12 years): a spot sample collected in the afternoon, and a 12-h overnight sample. Solute/creatinine (Cr) and 12-h solute excretion was calculated. RESULTS: Urinary excretion values of the studied solutes are presented as percentile values, separately for each type of sample. Due to age-related differences in the solute/creatinine ratios, except for Ca and Cit, results are described according to the child's age. The presence of excretion values related to an increased risk of lithiasis was more common in children with a family history. CONCLUSIONS: We report data from urine samples collected by using a simplified collection protocol. The observed differences between children with and without a family history of lithiasis could justify that in population studies aimed at setting reference values, the former are excluded.

Assessment of patient safety culture in clinical laboratories in the Spanish National Health System.

INTRODUCTION: There is increasing awareness of the importance of transforming organisational culture in order to raise safety standards. This paper describes the results obtained from an evaluation of patient safety culture in a sample of clinical laboratories in public hospitals in the Spanish National Health System. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among health workers employed in the clinical laboratories of 27 public hospitals in 2012. The participants were recruited by the heads of service at each of the participating centers. Stratified analyses were performed to assess the mean score, standardized to a base of 100, of the six survey factors, together with the overall patient safety score. RESULTS: 740 completed questionnaires were received (88% of the 840 issued). The highest standardized scores were obtained in Area 1 (individual, social and cultural) with a mean value of 77 (95%CI: 76-78), and the lowest ones, in Area 3 (equipment and resources), with a mean value of 58 (95%CI: 57-59). In all areas, a greater perception of patient safety was reported by the heads of service than by other staff. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first multicentre study to evaluate the culture of clinical safety in public hospital laboratories in Spain. The results obtained evidence a culture in which high regard is paid to safety, probably due to the pattern of continuous quality improvement. Nevertheless, much remains to be done, as reflected by the weaknesses detected, which identify areas and strategies for improvement.

Recomendaciones para la elaboración de un cuadro de mando integral para la gestión de pruebas en el lugar de asistencia del paciente (POCT). Recomendación (2017) / Recommendations for constructing a balanced scorecard for point-of-care testing (POCT) management. Recommendation (2017)

El avance tecnológico en el campo del diagnóstico clínico ha generado una diversidad de pruebas de laboratorio aplicables en el lugar de asistencia al paciente (POCT), y ha permitido contar con una mayor calidad analítica de los procedimientos implementados. La elaboración de un cuadro de mando integral es una herramienta útil para el éxito en la gestión de un proceso trasversal, complejo e interdisciplinario, como es el de obtener resultados analíticos fiables, transferibles de forma inmediata mediante sistemas POCT. Para la elaboración de un cuadro de mando integral se deben considerar cuatro perspectivas: la de los clientes (pacientes, médicos, grupos de interés), la financiera (inversores privados o públicos), la de los procesos operativos internos (sistemas, procesos) y la de los profesionales (cultura organizativa). El objeto de este documento es establecer recomendaciones para la elaboración de un cuadro de mando integral para gestionar los sistemas POCT disponibles en una institución

Technological development of in vitro diagnostics has led to a diversity of new tests for point-of-care testing (POCT) and at the same time provides quality in the process. Construction of a balanced scorecard is a useful tool for the success in the management of a cross-sectional, complex and interdisciplinary process, as well as to obtain reliable analytical results for immediately use with POCT systems. In constructing a balanced scorecard, four perspectives should be considered: Customer (patients, doctors), Financial (private or public investors), Operating procedures (systems, processes), and Professionals (organisational culture). The aim of this document is to establish the recommendations for the development of an adequate balanced scorecard to manage a point-of-care network in a healthcare system