The Psychiatry Service of the Insular University Hospital of Gran Canaria, part of the Insular-Materno Infantil University Hospital Complex and under the Canary Islands Government's Health Department, has become a pioneer in the Canary Islands in implementing Point of Care (POC) technology. This innovation enables hematological monitoring for patients receiving treatment with clozapine, an essential antipsychotic medication for individuals with severe mental disorders.
This initiative is particularly aimed at patients with severe mental disorders and treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It is estimated that between a quarter and a third of schizophrenia patients do not respond to conventional antipsychotic treatment, for whom clozapine represents the standard therapeutic option.
Point of Care (POC) devices allow for hemograms to be performed using a capillary blood sample directly in the consultation with the specialist Mental Health nurse. Results are obtained during the same appointment, simplifying the process.
This technology reduces the need for venous blood draws, administrative appointments, laboratory visits, and additional travel, integrating hematological monitoring into the patient's regular follow-up. The simplification of the procedure not only enhances the patient experience but also promotes adherence to the necessary controls for maintaining treatment.
The implementation of this technology will be progressive, extending to Mental Health facilities across the entire reference area, serving both adult and child/adolescent populations. This will facilitate access to this monitoring for all patients indicated for clozapine.
This action was developed through a project funded by the Ministry of Health, as part of the initiatives of the Mental Health Commissioner, aimed at optimizing treatment and improving the quality of psychotropic drug prescriptions.
