Point of care in 2025: An overview of trends

Point of care refers to the technologies and processes that bring diagnostics and treatments directly to patients, helping to enable healthcare providers to deliver faster, more efficient and more personalized care. In 2025, these solutions are transforming patient outcomes, improving operational efficiency and making healthcare more accessible.

Point-of-care testing: Definition and importance

Point-of-care testing (POCT) allows healthcare providers to conduct diagnostic tests at or near the site of patient care, providing rapid results and enabling immediate clinical decisions. This is crucial in settings such as emergency rooms, urgent care centers and primary care offices, where timely results can significantly impact patient outcomes.

POCT offers several key benefits, including faster diagnosis, reduced wait times and enhanced patient satisfaction. In urgent care settings, for example, rapid flu tests or strep throat tests can provide results within minutes, allowing healthcare providers to begin treatment immediately and reduce unnecessary delays in care.

Examples of Point-of-Care Applications:

• Blood glucose testing: Helps enable patients with diabetes to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels at home or in a healthcare setting.
• Rapid infectious disease testing: Technologies that quickly identify conditions like COVID-19, influenza and strep throat, providing immediate results to facilitate timely treatment.
• Cholesterol and lipid tests: Used for monitoring heart disease risk and allowing healthcare providers to make real-time decisions about treatment.

POCT is especially valuable in reducing the time between diagnosis and treatment, which can help improve outcomes in urgent care situations and enhance overall patient care.

Key technologies shaping point-of-care

Advancements in point-of-care technologies are transforming healthcare delivery every day. These innovations not only streamline processes but also expand the reach of healthcare, improving accessibility and efficiency in ways that benefit both patients and providers.

Key technologies include:

Real-time data sharing

The ability to instantly access and share patient information is revolutionizing healthcare delivery. Real-time data allows for quicker decision-making and facilitates collaboration between healthcare teams, improving patient safety and treatment outcomes. Whether in emergency care or outpatient settings, healthcare providers can access critical data like lab results, imaging and patient histories on the spot.

Remote patient monitoring

With the rise of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, remote monitoring devices are becoming essential tools in managing long-term health. These wearable devices allow healthcare providers to track patients^’ vital signs — such as blood pressure, glucose levels and oxygen saturation — without the need for frequent in-person visits. This reduces hospital admissions and supports more personalized care in home settings.

Through daily patient monitoring, remote patient monitoring (RPM) also helps reduce the burden on frontline staff. In one study involving women with gestational diabetes, patients assigned to an RPM program experienced a decrease in overall medical visits — without compromising pregnancy outcomes. RPM patients submitted more glucose values on average (177 vs 146), achieved better glycemic control (79.2% vs 52.0%) and reached target blood sugar levels faster (3.3 vs 4.1 weeks) compared to those using traditional paper logs.¹

These benefits were achieved without increasing in-person appointments.

Additionally, RPM patients had lower rates of preeclampsia (5.8% vs 15.0%) and their infants experienced less neonatal hypoglycemia within the first 24 hours of life (29.8% vs 51.7%). These improvements are especially critical in today’s healthcare environment, where staffing shortages often limit appointment availability.¹

Mobile diagnostic tools

Portable diagnostic devices, such as handheld ultrasound machines or mobile ECG monitors, empower healthcare providers to perform tests and make diagnoses wherever needed. This is particularly beneficial in underserved or rural areas, where access to traditional diagnostic equipment may be limited.

Benefits of real-time data and collaboration in POC

One of the key advantages of point-of-care technologies is the ability to share and access real-time data, which directly impacts patient care and collaboration among healthcare teams.

Benefits include:

Improved decision-making

Access to real-time patient data helps healthcare professionals make more informed decisions, which is especially critical in fast-paced environments like emergency rooms and urgent care centers. Immediate access to test results, vital signs and patient history helps clinicians to act quickly and initiate appropriate treatments without delay.

Enhanced team collaboration

Real-time data allows healthcare professionals to work together seamlessly, regardless of their location. Whether a group of specialists collaborating on a patient’s care or primary care physicians consulting with experts remotely, real-time data sharing can help ensure that all team members are on the same page and can act in the patient’s best interest.

Better patient safety

Real-time data access reduces the risk of errors due to missing or outdated information. By instantly providing updates on patients’ lab results, medications and other relevant information, point-of-care technologies help reduce the chances of medical mistakes and adverse drug interactions.

Challenges and barriers to implementing POC solutions

While point-of-care solutions offer substantial benefits, there are several challenges healthcare organizations overcome to fully leverage these technologies.

Key barriers to adoption:

Cost

The initial investment required to implement point-of-care technologies can be a significant barrier for some healthcare providers. From purchasing diagnostic devices to upgrading IT infrastructure and training staff, the costs of integrating these solutions can be high. However, McKesson’s solutions are designed to be cost-effective, providing scalable options for both small practices and large healthcare systems.

Regulatory compliance

Point-of-care technologies must meet stringent regulatory standards to help ensure they are safe and effective. Navigating these regulations can be time-consuming and challenging, especially in regions with complex healthcare laws.

Integration with existing systems

Healthcare organizations often rely on legacy IT systems that may not be compatible with newer point-of-care technologies. Integrating these systems can require substantial time and effort.

Training and adoption

For point-of-care solutions to be effective, healthcare professionals need to be properly trained. Without proper training, there is a risk of errors in using equipment, interpreting results and implementing patient care protocols.

Future trends in point-of-care healthcare

As we move into 2025 and beyond, the future of point-of-care healthcare will be shaped by innovations in technology, patient expectations and the growing demand for more efficient, patient-centered care.

Emerging trends include:

Expansion into chronic disease management

While point-of-care testing has traditionally been used for acute conditions like infections, future POC solutions will focus more on chronic disease management. Devices that monitor conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease will allow patients to manage their health from home, reducing the need for frequent doctor visits.

Telemedicine and home healthcare

The integration of point-of-care technologies with telemedicine is helping to enable a new era of home healthcare and is found to be a transformative tool in chronic disease management, notably in diabetes care.² Patients can now access real-time consultations with healthcare providers while monitoring their vitals from home using wearable devices. McKesson’s range of home healthcare solutions helps bridge the gap between remote care and traditional in-office visits.

Wearable diagnostic devices

Wearables are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with some now capable of monitoring a wide range of health metrics, from heart rate to blood glucose levels. As these devices become more advanced, they will play a larger role in point-of-care testing and chronic disease management, offering continuous, real-time health data to both patients and healthcare providers.

The evolving role of POC in 2025 and beyond

Point-of-care solutions are revolutionizing healthcare by improving access, enhancing care quality and reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment. As McKesson continues to innovate and support healthcare providers with cutting-edge POC technologies, the future of healthcare looks brighter than ever.

Adopting point-of-care solutions is not just a trend; it’s a transformative shift that will shape the future of patient care. By embracing these technologies, healthcare organizations can help improve operational efficiency, help enhance patient outcomes and meet the demands of an increasingly dynamic healthcare landscape.

Contact us today to learn more about how McKesson can support your point-of-care needs.