America's Poison Centers

America's Poison Centers is a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1958, representing the nation's poison centers. The organization supports these centers in their public health mission to prevent poisonings, provide education, conduct scientific research, and treat individuals exposed to various toxins.

Mission and Activities

• Public Health Mission: America's Poison Centers advances the public health goals of the nation's poison centers by focusing on prevention, education, and treatment of poisoning exposures. This includes managing cases involving medications, environmental hazards, plants, animals, and household products.
• Certification and Accreditation: The organization provides accreditation for U.S. poison centers and certifies specialists in poison information. These specialists are trained to provide critical advice to the public and healthcare providers.
• National Poison Data System (NPDS): America's Poison Centers owns and manages the NPDS, a comprehensive database that collects and analyzes data from all poison exposure cases reported across the country. NPDS data are crucial for guiding clinical research, informing product safety decisions, and supporting public health surveillance.

Impact and Services

• Poison Help Services: America's Poison Centers facilitates access to expert medical advice through a national hotline. Calls are answered by trained medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, providing immediate assistance 24/7.
• Education and Outreach: The organization supports educational outreach programs to reduce poisoning incidents and enhance public awareness of poison prevention strategies.
• Collaborations: America's Poison Centers partners with federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance surveillance and response capabilities, particularly in areas like radiation exposure.

Structure

• The organization represents 55 (or 53, depending on current accreditation status) accredited poison control centers across the United States, serving all states and several U.S. territories.
• Each center serves a specific geographic area, ensuring comprehensive coverage and timely response to poisoning incidents.

Financial and Regulatory Impact

• America's Poison Centers contributes to significant cost savings in the healthcare system by triaging cases effectively, reducing unnecessary emergency department visits, and optimizing resource allocation.

EIN

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for America's Poison Centers is 66068460.