Toxicology

Objectives of the Service

• Consultations - Our primary role is the clinical evaluation of patients in a consultant role. We provide educational and formal consultations for the poisoned, overdosed, or toxin exposed patient. In addition, we provide informational services to clients on drug identification, interactions and environmental toxicity.
• Literature searching - We provide extensive medical literature searching and researching in any area related to toxicology. We also provide annotation and explanation for any medical literature as needed.
• Educational programs/ speakers - Our staff is available to speak on a variety of topics geared to both the professional and lay audience. Written reviews of drugs and drug overdose will be available.
• Research – Our Clinical Toxicology staff is currently engaged in research associated primarily to toxicologic and related sciences. We are eager to collaborate with private industry, government, and academic institutions in the design and application of various toxicology related research projects.
  
  

Toxicology Service General Information: The Emergency Medicine Clinical Toxicology Consulting Service was created as a function of the Emergency Medicine Department Clinical Toxicology Section and is based in the Emergency Medicine Department. The primary focus is to provide:

• Comprehensive clinical toxicology consults within the Regions Hospital System and Healthpartners affiliates.
• Education and quality teaching in toxicology to the Hospital residents and other patient care providers.
• Information on drug product identifications and drug information.
   

Staffing and Responsibilities: The principal members of the Service include 1 or 2 EMD staff physicians, an Emergency Medicine resident, and a PharmD toxicologist. Administration of the Service is the responsibility of the Director and EMD Senior Administrator. In addition, the Service has secretarial support and a Billing/Coding personnel.
 
 
The EMD staff physicians is responsible for:

• Formal consults involve comprehensive evaluations (history, ROS, PMSH, and physical examination) of the patient and appropriate recommendations based on Reason for Consultation.
• Educational consults involves review of patient management for educational purposes to the management team. Information and assessments are to be shared with the management team and subsequently utilized for the teaching and education of the Service staff.
• Educational and formal consultations for all Hospital inpatients and clinic patients. 
• Inservices may be informal or prepared presentations to nursing personnel.
• Perform literature searches on toxicology topics regarding current management, etc. 
• Teaching tasks such as inservices, formal lectures and presentations, and other educational activities
• On-call telephone advice to Hospital and Clinic personnel regarding patient management in cases of overdose, drug toxicity or toxic exposure.
• Supervision of residents and students rotating on the EM/Toxicology rotation and providing input into their performance evaluation. 

The EM Residents on service are responsible for:

• Lead daily ICU rounds with MD and PharmD staff for educational consults
• Formal and educational consults on inpatients and clinic patients under the supervision of the EMD Staff physician.
• Presentations to Service Staff during the 1-month rotation and inservice presentations to Hospital nursing personnel plus a formal presentation to the EMD residents and staff.
• Performing literature searches for Hospital Housestaff and Attendings.
• On-call telephonic advice with EMD staff physician or PharmD.
• Completing the resident responsibilities outlined in EM Toxicology Rotation Packet. This packet defines the resident's learning responsibilities and provides clinical rounds and conference schedules.
• Provide input into the performance evaluation of students rotating on the Service. 

The PharmD Toxicologist will be responsible for:

• Participation in educational consults on Hospital Unit/Ward patients. 
• Inservices may be informal or prepared presentations to nursing personnel.
• The Toxicology Staff MD will be consulted when needed for complex cases and notified of all critical cases in the Hospital ICU.
• Teaching tasks such as inservices, formal lectures and presentations, and other educational activities for nursing personnel and residents Performing literature searches for Hospital Housestaff and Attendings
• On-call telephonic advice to Hospital and Clinic personnel regarding patient management in cases of overdose, drug toxicity or toxic exposure. Provide input into the performance evaluation of students rotating on the Service.

Service Administration
The Service is directed by Dr. Carson Harris of the Emergency Medicine Department.

The Service Director is responsible for:  

• Insuring quality and professional consultation and behavior by Clinical Toxicology Consulting Service staff.
• Provide periodic performance evaluation and feedback to staff
• Encourage continuing education of staff.
• Encourage research in toxicology and pharmacology.
• The administration of the Services offered and for generating the on-call schedule.