The Global Educational Toxicology Toolkit (GETKIT)
Background:
Due to the lack of toxicology services in some countries there is a knowledge gap on the management of poisoning in the emergency department. To address this gap, we propose the delivery of a 1-day, introductory toxicology curriculum targeted to emergency doctors and first responders in developing countries.
Aim:
We hope to show that delivery of a one-day, interactive toxicology curriculum to health care practitioners in countries without toxicology services is feasible and effective for knowledge dissemination.
Topics:
The materials will cover the basics of toxicology, with the intended audience being health care providers who care for acutely poisoned patients in low- and middle-income countries. The course will be divided into three parts:
- Didactic lectures on essential topics in poisoning management presented by ACMT Members and/or trained affiliates at host institutions.
GETKIT Lectures:
3 - Required lectures we give are: (2.5 hours)
- General Management/Toxidromes/Decon/Labs- 75 min
- Pediatric Exposures - 30 min
- Antidotes - 45 min
There is some selection aspect to the course didactics.
Then you can choose the other lectures based on what is more relevant to your locations' interests or needs/exposures.
You have another 2.5 hours available for lectures.
18 Additional available lectures and estimated time are:
ASA - 30 min
Acetaminophen - 30 min
Plants - 45 min
Mushrooms – 30 min
Corrosives - 30 min
Organophosphates - 30 min
Non-Organophosphate Agriculture Chemicals – 30 min
Tricyclic Antidepressants – 30 min
Toxic Alcohols – 30 min
Cardiac drugs – 45 min
Radiation – 45 min
Hazmat – 30 min
Chemical Agents – 30 min
Opioids & Sedatives - 30 min
Hallucinogens & Sympathomimetics - 45 min
Methemoglobinemia - 30 min
Metals - 45 min
Envenomations – Snakes – 30 min
- "TOX-LAB" workshop. The aims of the workshop are to reinforce key points from the morning lecture sessions and introduce case-based approach to poisoning diagnosis and management. There will be stations, with case-based prompts highlighting diagnostic tests andvisual aids in poisoning management.
- Tech Clinic: Here participants can get information about toxicology databases, apps, sensors and devices, and register for ACMT’s GETUP project. They will be encouraged to bring their own laptops and smartphones, with the goal of enhancing global communications in toxicology.
Participants will be evaluated using pre-and post-test instruments and during the lessons using audience response software. A follow-up test will be given at three months after the course is delivered to the course participants, in which participants will be queried for both clinical knowledge retention as well as their comfort level with poisoning management as well as the extent of their online participation in asynchronous toxicology learning tools via social media.
For more information contact Kathy Kopec: ktkopec@gmail.com
GETKIT Team
Kathy Kopec
Kathy is currently an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. She completed her EM residency and Med Tox fellowship at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. Her areas of interest are global toxicology, drugs of abuse, public health and envenomations.
Cynthia Santos
Cynthia Santos is from Queens, New York. She obtained her B.A. in Neuroscience at Dartmouth College and her M.D. at Weill Cornell Medical College. She did her emergency medicine residency at Mount Sinai Hospital and completed her clinical toxicology fellowship at the Emory University/Centers for Disease Control program. After fellowship she joined Rutgers University Hospital as Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine and Toxicology. Her academic interests are in global health, public health, emergency preparedness and addiction.
Ziad Kazzi
Ziad Kazzi, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FAACT, is Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director, International Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medical Toxicology at Emory University and Assistant Medical Director, Georgia Poison Center.
Anselm Wong
Anselm Wong MBBS FACEM DipTox is a Clinical Toxicologist and Emergency Physician for the Austin Toxicology Service and Victorian Poisons Information Center, Austin Health, Victoria, Australia. He is the Director of the Global Educational Toxicology Uniting Project (GETUP).
Rais Vohra
Rais Vohra MD, FACEP, FACMT, is Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCSF Fresno and Associate Medical Director of California Poison Control System Fresno-Madera Division.
Pictures from courses provided thus far:
Nepal
Tanzania
