Drug & Poison Information Services
Databases
- Micromedex
- Poisindex
Text Books
- Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference
- Drug Information Handbook
- American Hospital Pharmacy Drug Information
- Australian Medicines Handbook
- National Formulary of India
- British National Formulary
- Medical toxicology diagnosis and treatment of human poisoning by Ellenhorn MJ
- Treatment protocols for the management of poisoning
Standard Operating Procedure: Drug Information Service
- Receive drug information (DI) query from requester through direct access/telephonically/ during ward rounds
- Ask requester to fill DI request form/get the query and document in DI request form
- Secure the demographics of requester and contact details
- Ask the requester about the purpose of request, mode and time of reply
- Assess the perception of requester about query and also resources consulted previously
- Collect all the required details pertaining to query
- Review the query received and categorize the query as per the categories specified in the DI request and documentation form
- Identify the appropriate references
- Collect the information from various suitable Journals, Text books and other references available
- Critically analyze the available information and its usefulness in a given situation
- Formulate the answer from the available information to suit the requester’s need
- Ensure that the final answer is appropriate, clear, specific and concise
- Consult the staff in-charge for the appropriateness of answer before providing the Information
- Provide the formulated answer in a requested mode and timely manner
- Follow up the case for the outcome and act as appropriate
- Document the answer in DI documentation form
Standard Operating Procedure: Poison Information Service
- Receive the poison information query by telephone/direct access or any other mode as appropriate
- Mention affiliation of the department (through phone)
- Collect the name, professional status and contact details of requester
- Receive the poison information query and classify its ultimate category
- Ask requester about purpose of request whether it is for better patient care or to update the knowledge or any other
- Assess the perception of requester about query and also resources referred already by requester
- Collect patient demographics, allergic status, medical history and location
- Collect information about poisoning substance, form of poisoning substance, quantity taken, route of substance taken and time of exposure
- Check the poison container if made available and confirm the nature of poison and quantity consumed
- Collect the details about first aid or any other treatments given and consider the same while recommending antidotes for poisoning case
- Once all the details are available, appropriate resources referred to get specific information about poison management or antidote if available
- Provide the available alternative management strategies if antidote for specified poisoning case is not available
- If antidote is available, then assess whether availability of that antidote to patient is possible within short duration of time
- If antidote is available, then calculate the dose as per patient demographics and clinical condition
- Check for any possible contraindication and consider category of patient whether patient is pediatric, geriatric, pregnant women and lactating mother
- Provide the information immediately to requester through direct access or telephone or any other suitable mode of communication
- Ensure that the information is reviewed by atleast one of the faculty member before it is provided to the requester
- Follow-up the case for further clinical outcome after administration of antidote and/or adopting suggested alternative treatment
- Contact requester if direct access to patient is difficult or not possible for gathering more details about patient clinical condition
- Document the provided information for further reference as per the format
