Toxicology screening patterns in hamilton county, ohio: Review of 1,710 comprehensive drug screens in five area hospitals
✍ Scribed by Assistant Professor Kevin S. Merigian; Timothy J. Schroeder; Jerry J. Tasset; Amadeo J. Pesce
- Book ID
- 102311432
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1988
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 351 KB
- Volume
- 2
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0887-8013
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
This retrospective study evaluated the results of comprehensive drug screens ordered in five local emergency departments; a university hospital, the Children's Hospital, the Veterans' Administration Hospital, and two community hospitals. Four groups of drugs provided over 50% of positive screens-benzodiazepines, analgesics, opiates, and alcohols. Incidence of positive screens for analgesics, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, opiates, stimulants, and tricyclic antidepressant varied among the institutions. The university and Children's Hospitals ordered the largest number of patient visits in their emergency departments.
These results suggested that area hospitals have different toxicological patterns, and modifying comprehensive screens could be more cost-effective on overdose patients. We retrospectively examined 60 screens which were ordered on patients at the University. We calculated an increased positive incidence and decreased cost per patient if screens were ordered on a "clinical panel" basis verses a total "comprehensive" basis. We conclude that clinical guidance will increase the incidence of positive screen results, be more cost-effective, and provide useful information to the ordering physician.