• IMA sites
  • IMAJ services
  • IMA journals
  • Follow us
  • Alternate Text Alternate Text
עמוד בית
Fri, 13.12.24

ORIGINALS

IMAJ | volume 26

Journal 9, October 2024
pages: 572-576

Introduction of a New Toxicology Consult Service in a Large Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

1 Department of Pediatrics, Dana–Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel 2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel 3 Clinical Biochemistry and Genetic Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel 4 Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel 5 Department of Emergency Medicine and Section of Medical Toxicology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA 6 Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver Health and Hospital, Denver, Colorado, USA 7 Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Summary

Background:

Clinical toxicology is not a certified specialty in Israel, consequently there are a limited number of toxicologists and toxicology services available for consultation.

Objectives:

To establish a medical toxicology consultation service focusing on bedside consultations, which had not previously been available in Israel.

Methods:

This single-center, retrospective chart review of toxicology consults was conducted during the first years after the initiation of a new toxicology service.

Results:

From September 2017 to December 2021, 1703 toxicology consultations were conducted. The most common exposures and reasons for consultation included psychotropic medications (427, 23%), analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications (353, 19%), household products (312, 17%), substances of abuse (240, 13%), and natural toxins (142, 8%). Bedside medical toxicology consultations were performed in 1036 cases (62%) during daytime and night shifts. The number of consultation requests increased steadily over the study period.

Conclusions:

The new toxicology service led to a significant change in the institution’s approach to toxicological patients. A bedside toxicology service could help reduce the healthcare burden on national poison centers and can offer readily available, personalized, medical toxicology care.

Legal Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal or medical advice on any matter.
The IMA is not responsible for and expressly disclaims liability for damages of any kind arising from the use of or reliance on information contained within the site.
© All rights to information on this site are reserved and are the property of the Israeli Medical Association. Privacy policy

2 Twin Towers, 35 Jabotinsky, POB 4292, Ramat Gan 5251108 Israel