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SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team: The New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is composed of almost 300 volunteers from 48 communities around the state.  The DMAT is fully self-sufficient in both the ability to provide high quality disaster medicine in an austere environment and to provide for its own logistical needs. This means that each DMAT travels with not only medical equipment and supplies, but also with shelter, food, water and water purification systems, and communications. Meeting and training no less than quarterly, the DMAT maintains its proficiency by simulated disaster responses involving many other public safety agencies. Based upon scenarios, the DMAT will respond, establish camp, assess and manage patients, and maintain each of these operations over a two or three day period. Another DMAT function is to provide the medical component of the New Mexico Department of Public safety's Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force.  A sub-unit of the DMAT provides emergency medical care to large gatherings which occur as a result of university functions or on a contractual basis with other agencies. This may include athletic events, as well as concerts and other such activities. Disasters to which the NM DMAT has been deployed include Hurricane Hugo in St. Croix (1989), Hurricane Andrew in Florida (1992), Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii (1992), the Northridge, CA, earthquake (1994), Hurricane Opal in Mississippi (1995), The Atlanta Summer Olympics (1996), and The World Trade Center (2001).

The New Mexico Poison Center: The New Mexico Poison Center serves the poisoning and drug information needs for the entire state of New Mexico. Because of its cultural diversity, nearness to the border, and physical geography, New Mexico never fails to offer the unusual and the downright bizarre in toxicological exposures. The Poison Center is staffed by pharmacists and PharmD's with 24 hour physician back up. Current call volume is over 55,000/year with the majority of calls coming from the Albuquerque catchment area. It houses the largest toxicology library and resource center in the state.   The Emergency Medicine Toxicology elective is based through the NM Poison Center. Residents have the opportunity to consult on hospitalized cases at UNM and go on daily toxicology rounds. Toxicology clinic is held biweekly and presents a source of occupational and environmental exposures. Hospitalized poisoning cases throughout the state serve as a constant source of clinical material for daily discussion and review and have proved to be one of the most effective teaching aspects of the rotation. Formal didactic presentations are also given by the medical director and Poison Center staff.

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