Poison Information Specialist

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:  Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Poison Control Center

Job Summary:

Appropriately triages all calls, inquiries about symptoms and signs of poisonings, then provides management and treatment recommendations. Provides accurate information about symptoms and treatment recommendations of poisonings to consumers, health care providers, and other agencies under occasional guidance, and does follow-up calls to hospitals on all patients until discharged. Keeps accurate medical records on calls, codes all information accurately and writes appropriate case notes. Reports to the director and managing director of the Tennessee Poison Center (TPC).

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The Tennessee Poison Center is looking to hire a full-time Specialist in Poison Information or Certified Specialist in Poison Information. Applicants must be either an RN, PharmD, MD, or a PA. Applicant must be available to work all shifts (days, nights, evenings, weekends, holidays). The Tennessee Poison Center is housed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A specialist answers front line calls from the public and hospitals looking for advice on poison emergencies or drug information calls. The Tennessee Poison Center will train a new specialist to become a certified specialist, and the process takes approximately 1 year and is fully paid.  Specialists are Vanderbilt University Medical Center employees and receive benefits including retirement, health care, and paid time off. The position has options for working remotely once training is completed, however, it is required to relocate to the Nashville area. Applicants can reach out to the Tennessee Poison Center’s medical director, Dr. Rebecca Bruccoleri at Rebecca.E.Bruccoleri@vumc.org with any questions.

Key Responsibilities

• Obtains critical information and provides accurate information regarding assessment and managing of potential poisoning.
• Makes appropriate decisions based on triage, need for toxicologist consultation and treatment recommendations.
• Documents all information and exposure calls in Toxically. Documents an accurate history, symptoms, assessment, and recommendation or plan on all exposure cases.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

Technical Capabilities

• Records Management (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate Records Management in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Familiar with archival records and procedures which have enduring value and are preserved for reference and research purposes because they reflect significant events or information.
• Call Center Problem Solving (Intermediate): Ability to maintain ongoing dialogue with customers in order to assess impact of problems thereby ensuring problems are addressed in relation to their severity and importance to the situation. Demonstrates ability to effectively determine difficult problems in a timely fashion, only after exhausting all possibilities for resolution within scope of responsibilities. Maintains appropriate documentation of the call.
• Drug Poisoning Assessments (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of drug poisoning assessments in practical applications of a difficult nature. Possesses sufficient knowledge, training, and experience to be capable of successfully delivering poison assessments without requiring support and instruction from others. Able to train and educate by setting the example, giving technical instruction, providing leadership, and generally raising the level of performance of others while on the job.

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