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Poison center utilization in nosocomial toxicologic exposures: a prospective study
J A Scalise1, F Harchelroad, E P Krenzelok
1Pittsburgh Poison Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Healthcare providers can reduce harm from accidental toxic exposures by contacting poison centers. Immediate intervention through poison control centers is crucial for managing therapeutic misadventures and mitigating adverse patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Patient Safety
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Accidental toxicologic exposures in health care facilities (HCFs) pose risks of increased morbidity, mortality, and medicolegal liability.
- Prompt recognition and reporting of these exposures to poison centers enable timely intervention by healthcare providers.
- Poison centers serve as critical resources for managing adverse events within HCFs.
Observation:
- A 12-month analysis of exposures reported to a poison center identified six primary categories of therapeutic misadventure.
- The most frequent category was the proximity of potentially harmful substances to confused individuals (54%).
- Other significant categories included wrong medication (18%) and incorrect dose or route (16%).
Findings:
- Therapeutic misadventures are a notable concern within healthcare settings, encompassing medication errors and environmental exposures.
- The study categorizes these events to understand their prevalence and nature.
- Proximity of hazardous materials to vulnerable patients emerged as the leading cause of reported incidents.
Implications:
- Increased awareness of poison center capabilities can enhance the management of therapeutic misadventures.
- Effective collaboration with poison centers can mitigate patient harm and reduce healthcare-associated risks.
- This data can inform targeted prevention strategies to improve patient safety in HCFs.