Advisory GP21/01: Point-of-care testing for general practices

National General Practice Accreditation Scheme: Advisory details

Purpose

To clarify the requirements for general practices to be accredited to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) outlined by the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) and the RACGP.

Issue

In partnership with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the NPAAC and the RACGP, the Commission has expanded the standards under the NGPA Scheme to include the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition).

Point-of-care testing is pathology testing performed near the individual by a point-of-care operator at the time of the encounter which produces results that can be used to make immediate informed decisions about individual care. The RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) were included as part of the NGPA Scheme from 1 November 2021.

General practices seeking accreditation to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) must adhere to the requirements stipulated in this advisory.

Requirements

Accreditation of a general practice to the RACGP Standards for general practices (5th edition) is a pre-requisite for the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition).

Approved accrediting agencies may assess general practices to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) under the NGPA Scheme.

Accreditation cycle for general practices accredited to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition):

General practices can register to be accredited to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition). Once registered an assessment must be completed within 12-months. Following assessment, the accreditation cycle is three years, in line with the NGPA Scheme.

For general practices seeking accreditation to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) outside of their accreditation assessment to the RACGP Standards for general practices, in agreement with their accrediting agency an on-site or hybrid assessment (one assessor on site, one assessor off site participating virtually) can take place. All hybrid assessments must adhere to the Commission’s guidance for conducting hybrid assessments and be approved by the Commission prior to the assessment taking place.

Arrangements for hybrid assessments to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) will remain in place until 1 November 2023. After this date it is expected that all assessments to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) will take place on site, unless otherwise specified.

Assessor roles and responsibilities:

Assessors must comply with the following guidelines to adequately assess to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition):

• Meet the requirements outlined in Appendix 2 item 4 of the Policy - Approval under the National General Practice Accreditation (NGPA) Scheme to conduct assessments (the Policy)
• Have completed training on the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) conducted by the approved accrediting agency as stipulated in Appendix 2 item 4 in the Policy
• Have an understanding of servicing of point-of-care testing equipment, including external quality assurance measures.

Point-of-care testing equipment guidelines:

Accrediting agencies assessing general practices to the RACGP Standards for point-of-care testing (5th edition) must ensure the general practice adheres to the following:

• The equipment is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods
• The equipment is fully functioning
• The equipment is serviced regularly, including quality control and external quality assurance testing
• Training on the use of the equipment is completed by general practice staff utilising the equipment.