Poison Center Achieves Reaccreditation
The Texas Panhandle Poison Center (TPPC), hosted by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy in Amarillo, has achieved reaccreditation through 2023 from the American Association
of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
TPPC, which also undergoes annual compliance reviews, is required to go through reaccreditation every seven years to ensure it provides quality services and to secure federal funding. To achieve reaccreditation, TPPC and all other poison centers undertake an extensive peer-review process that includes a review of policies, procedures, call management efforts to educate the public and health care providers, in the context of nationally recognized standards for poison control centers.
According to AAPCC, the primary functions of a poison control center are to enhance the health of the lay public by assessing exposures and providing timely information, including referral to health care facilities when indicated; and to enhance the care of poisoned patients by providing timely information on diagnosis and treatment to health care professionals.
“For severe and unusual poisonings, poison centers serve as a free resource to both the public and health care providers,” TPPC Medical Director Thomas Martin, M.D, said. “Also, physicians who are managing poison cases may consult with board-certified medical toxicologists by using poison center services.”
TPPC Managing Director Jeanie Jaramillo-Stametz, Pharm.D, said Texas poison centers
save the public, insurers and other payers millions of dollars each year by providing
assistance over the phone and preventing unnecessary emergency room visits.
“There are types of poison exposures in which a patient needs to go to the emergency room, but with a majority of poisonings, our trained medical staff can manage patients at home without the expense of going to an emergency room,” Jaramillo-Stametz said.
Visit TPPC's website for more information.
Related Stories
Remembering Dr. Tom McGovern
TTUHSC Celebration of Life Service was held March 25th in remembrance of Tom McGovern, Ed.D.
TTUHSC Ranks Fourth Nationally Among Graduate Institutions as a Military Friendly® School
TTUHSC has been named as a Military Friendly® School for 2022-2023. Among graduate schools, TTUHSC ranked fourth in the nation, achieving Gold award status.
TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Students Celebrate Residency Assignments on Match Day
On March 16, fourth-year TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy students interested in completing a residency after they graduate in May, learned where they would spend the next stage of their training during the Pharmacy Residency Match Day.
Recent Stories
TTUHSC’s Cornwall Elected Fellow by American Association for the Advancement of Science
Gail Cornwall, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry at the TTUHSC, has been named a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellowship Class of 2022.
Study Seeks to Improve Pediatric Patient Safety by Addressing Language Barriers
To help address communication hurdles, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has awarded a $438,756 subcontract to Tetyana L. Vasylyeva, M.D., Ph.D., from the TTUHSC School of Medicine.
TTUHSC Physician Elected American Burn Association President
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Surgery Chair Sharmila Dissanaike, M.D., was elected as the American Burn Association president for 2025.