Upstate University Hospital adds medical-toxicology service

SYRACUSE — Upstate University Hospital today announced it will add a medical-toxicology consultation service beginning July 1.

The hospital will offer the service through its department of emergency medicine, in cooperation with the Upstate New York Poison Center.

Medical toxicologists are involved in the care of patients who have overdosed, had adverse-drug reactions, or have poisoning or exposures to occupational or environmental chemicals, Upstate University Hospital said in a news release.

Through this service, doctors and pharmacists with advanced toxicology training will be available to help in the diagnosis and evaluation of patients who have been exposed to poison or another toxic substance, the hospital said.

Doctors and pharmacists are able to see these patients at their bedside “immediately” rather than evaluate them the next day, Dr. Ross Sullivan, director of Upstate’s medical-toxicology consultation service and an assistant professor of emergency medicine, said in the news release.

“Studies show that this type of service results in decreased ICU [intensive-care unit] stays and shorter hospital stays for the patient. It is also cost effective in that the patient needs fewer healthcare resources,” Sullivan said.

The toxicologists are available for consultations upon request Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinical and medical toxicology fellows and residents will provide the after-hours and weekend consultations, the hospital said.

In addition, the medical-toxicology consultation service will offer an outpatient clinic on Tuesdays, beginning July 2, in the hyperbaric suite at Upstate’s downtown campus.

The clinic will see patients for follow-up visits and those with physician referrals for evaluation of poisoning and other adverse-health effects due to medications, occupational and environmental toxins, and biological agents, Upstate said.

The Chicago–based American Board of Medical Specialties officially recognizes medical toxicology as a medical subspecialty, the hospital added.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com