Assessing the clinical needs for point of care technologies in neurologic emergencies.

Background: Neurologic emergencies are common, frequently devastating, and benefit from timely diagnosis and treatment. Point of care (POC) technologies have the potential to assist clinicians caring for these patients. In order to prioritize development of new POC testing, a thorough assessment of clinical needs is required. We describe the methods of the clinical needs assessment (CNA) process and provide the initial findings of a CNA for POC technologies in neurologic emergencies performed to support a National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) initiative.

Methods: CNA is an iterative process. An initial survey instrument was developed through consensus by a multi-disciplinary panel and underwent internal validation through beta-testing and face-validity assessment. This survey was distributed at the national meetings of several academic medical societies and results were used to redesign of the survey tool for broader distribution. Analysis of responses from the revised survey supported the release of a request for proposals (RFP) in 2010. Survey revision continues, and expanded CNA efforts with focus groups are being designed in anticipation of another RFP in 2012.

Results: The initial survey identified six areas of clinical need and two domains of interest. The revised version gathered additional responses but no new domains or areas of clinical need were identified. The resultant RFP generated 23 letters of intent from industry and academic institutions, of which three were chosen for funding.

Conclusions: Assessing clinical needs is a necessary first step in developing new technologies. A multi-faceted approach assures that the views of interested stakeholders are represented and can influence success.