1. 911/Poison Center Interface
A plan that works!
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center
May 14, 2008

2. What is a Poison Center? Respond to poison emergency
and poison information calls
Free-confidential service
24/7/365 service
Management by registered nurses specially trained in toxicology
Staff of medical and clinical toxicologists 24/7
Ongoing professional and public education
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

3. Why do Poison Centers exist?
NYS Poison Centers were
established by law to reduce:
The number
The cost
The severity
of poisonings in NYS
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

4. Sites of Poisonings At home At work Healthcare sites In the field
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

5. Scope About 40,000 calls annually 85% of calls are accidents
82% of calls are managed AT HOME
55% of calls are about children >5
Only 3% of calls require an emergency vehicle
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

6. Service area of the Upstate Poison Center
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

7. Rationale for 911/PC Interface
Maximize medical resources in the communities we mutually serve
Provide excellence in medical service in the most cost-efficient manner possible
Provide an opportunity for developing a dynamic collaborative between our centers
For every dollar spent on the Poison Center side, seven dollars are saved on the medical intervention side.
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

8. History of 911/UNYPC Interface
Steering Committee was formed for the Start-up of 911 Onondaga County
1992- The first Protocol and Procedure was developed for the interface of Onondaga County 911 and the Upstate New York Poison Center in Syracuse
1997- Oswego County 911 signed on
Today,both serve as the benchmark for this effective interface process
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

9. Steps for Initiating 911/PC Interface
911 director reviews/ approves 911/Poison Center interface
911 director signs off on P&P, formalized as part of 911 Directives
Training provided by Poison Center using P&P as base
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

10. Training Consists of:
Pre-test, providing examples of typical poisoning scenarios
History of Poison Center
Intro to Poison Center staff & service area
Rationale and purpose of training
Provide P&P, summarized
Discussion
Group post-test
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

11. Typical Call
Call to 911
Caller has:
Eaten
Swallowed
Spilled or splashed in eyes or on skin
Inhaled
Bite or sting
911 call-taker assesses the situation according to 911 protocol
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

12. Typical Call IF there is no: Call is transferred to the Poison Center
Loss of consciousness
Blocked airway
Suicide attempt
Suspicious nature
Call is transferred to the Poison Center
Exception: If caller demands vehicle be sent, it will be sent.
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

13. Typical Call Transfer process (depending on center’s capabilities)
911 call taker ID’s him/herself as by county
Provides brief history of call
Poison Control will
Take control of call, PC is then liable for call just as if it originated at Poison Control
PC may ask 911 to stay on line till PC asks a few questions
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

14. Typical Call
911 is welcome to stay on the line to hear how case is managed, however
911 tells Poison Center they will be remaining on the line to listen
If the PC takes control of call, there can be no continuing discussion of management
82% of calls to Poison Centers are managed on site
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

15. Future Plans
Develop a computer-assisted 6 month post-test for 1st time participants for QA purposes
Develop an annual assessment for all past participants for QA purposes
Develop the training program for video conferencing purposes for 1st time participants
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

16. Interested? Qualified?
Check to see if your county is in the service area of the Upstate NY Poison Center
If so, agree to review the P&P developed by 911 Onondaga and the Upstate NY Poison Center
Sign off on P&P
Arrange for training for your staff
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center

17. Contact information
Thanks for participating in today’s program!
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Director of Public Education
Upstate New York Poison Center
May 14, 2008
Gail Banach, MS,IDDE, MS,Ed
Upstate New York Poison Center