New Jersey Poison Information & Education System

Your Local Poison Center

Director's Message

Welcome! As we make a concerted effort to increase awareness of unintentional poisoning throughout New Jersey, we are pleased to unveil our new website. This site was designed to provide visitors with information on the services of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES). We would like to thank the staff at the Poison Center Technical Assistance Resource Center (PC TARC) of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation for their help in developing our new site.

Poison control centers (PCCs) are our nation’s primary defense against injury and deaths from poisoning. Twenty-four hours a day, the general public and health care professionals contact their local poison centers for help in diagnosing and treating victims of poisonings. The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System is designated as a regional poison control center by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). NJPIES is New Jersey’s only poison control center.

Poisoning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in New Jersey and the third leading cause nationwide. Over the past decade, there has been a significant rise in unintentional poisoning deaths in New Jersey. Nationally, there will be between two and four million poison exposures in any given year. Of these exposures, sixty percent (60%) will involve children under the age of 6 who were exposed in their homes. Many poisonings can easily be prevented by just following a few simple poison prevention safety tips.

This site should serve as an excellent tool to further advance our outreach efforts. Whether you are a first-time visitor or an experienced supporter, you will find our site easy to navigate and full of valuable information. Please keep in mind, this website is only to be used as a resource. If you are accessing this site because you have a poisoning emergency, stop reading and immediately call
1-800-222-1222 for assistance from a poison specialist.

The face of PCCs are constantly evolving, therefore, we are committed to advancing the educational experience of our residents.

Sincerely yours,

Steven M. Marcus, MD
Medical Director

Mission

To provide treatment and the provision of information concerning poisons, drugs, and targeted health issues through telephone management, consultation, education and research.

Background

In the 1970’s there were 32 “Poison Control Centers” located in acute care hospital pharmacies and emergency departments throughout the state of New Jersey. The downfall, however, was that these pharmacy centers were not operational twenty-four hours a day; little or no records of calls were kept, and no center had a budget assigned to it. In response to a federal initiative to develop regional emergency medical services, New Jersey began a task force to look into how to provide regionalized poison center services. Legislation was passed that called upon the New Jersey Department of Health to develop a drug and poison information program. In February 1983, the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) opened. Today NJPIES is the state’s only certified poison center and provides comprehensive 24 hour services to New Jersey residents.

More on NJPIES

NJPIES Today

Today, NJPIES continues to serve NJ residents through the free, 24 hour Poison Help Hotline from our new state-of-the-art center, housed at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, NJ. NJPIES also operates the state’s AIDS/STD hotline. NJPIES’ staff maintains an active role in academia through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at conferences, and conducting keen surveillance of poison emergency activity. The center provides professional education for students and continuing education programs for working health professionals. The Education Department conducts statewide outreach and provides free poison prevention workshops, trainings, and literature. Health educators enthusiastically reach out to a variety of audiences and discuss the dangers of poisons and the importance of prevention.

Services

Hotline

NJPIES provides free poison consultation and drug information through its 1-800 Poison Help Hotline. By calling the number, callers reach specially trained health care professionals—nurses, pharmacists, and doctors—who can provide help with poison emergencies or answer questions ranging from drug information to breast feeding and medication use. NJPIES hotline service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

The 1-800-222-1222 hotline number is a national number and when dialed the caller’s location is automatically identified and connects the caller to the closest Poison Control Center. All services are free and confidential, and are available for the hearing impaired through TTD/TTY service as well as those who speak languages other than English.

Professional Education

Professional Education is considered a critical activity at NJPIES. We offer many educational programs for licensed health care professions, residents in training and students. Our professional staff provides programs on site at the poison center as well as at universities and health care facilities throughout NJ. For more information, please visit Professional Education.

Public Education

Poison prevention education can help save lives. NJPIES’ public education efforts include assessing community needs, planning and implementing effective programs targeting audiences spanning a wide range of ages, professions, and communities, in addition to evaluation. NPIES also develops and distributes free educational materials throughout the state. Through education, NJPIES’ works to empower NJ residents with the information necessary to carry out poison safe practices in their workplaces, homes, and communities. For more information, please visit Public Education.

Surveillance

NJPIES is committed to reducing the impact of poisoning by collecting, analyzing, and dispensing data for the development and implementation of poison prevention and awareness strategies. NJPIES stores information regarding poisoning-related calls in an electronic database. This information is used to educate residents, health care professionals, and the media on poisoning trends in the state of New Jersey; and assists in the development of poison prevention strategies. As a safeguard in instances of food poisonings, adverse drug or product reactions, or drug tampering, NJPIES notifies local and state agencies, the media, and the public of potential health threats.

Meet the Staff

Administrative Staff

Executive Medical Director:
Steven M. Marcus, MD
smarcus@njpies.org

Managing Director:
Thelma D. Jennis, RN, BS, MPH
tjennis@njpies.org

Director of Drug Information Services & Professional Education
Bruce E. Ruck, PharmD, RPh
bruck@njpies.org

Epidemiologist:
Alvin F. Chu, Ed D, MPH
achu@njpies.org

Director of Data Systems:
German R. Rego, MS
rrego@njpies.org

Director of Public Education:
Alicia Gambino, MA, CHES
agambino@njpies.org

Health Educators:
Madhavi D. Kasinadhuni, BS
madhavik@njpies.org

Letitia Johnson-Arnold, MS, CHES
ljohnson@njpies.org

Consultant Medical Toxicologists

Diane Calello, MD
Alan Genser, MD
John Kashani, DO
Joseph Rella, MD
Richard Shih, MD

Specialists in Poison Information

Our center is staffed by a unique group of healthcare professionals. These dedicated and highly trained professionals include physicians, registered nurses, and pharmacists. Our specialists offer free advice regarding poison emergencies, poison prevention information, drug information, food poisoning, animal bites, etc. Remember, Help is just a phone call away!

Ashish Bhatnager, MD

Richard Casas, MD, CSPI

Diantha Clark, RN, BM, MM, DMA, CCRN, CSPI

Renato R. DeBellonia, MD, CSPI

Nancy N. DeMar, MD, CSPI

Rolando J. Diaz, MD, CSPI

Noel Eustaquio, MD

Alma Gomez, RN, CCRN, CSPI

Arline A. Lloyd, RN, BS, CSPI

Mary McKeown-Parran, RN

Elvis Perez, RN, BSN, CSPI

Wilma Pomerantz, RN, BSN, MA, CSPI, ACRN

Shirley Rendon, MD, CSPI

Ghazala Saleem, BS, MS, CSPI

Darlene Smith, RN, BSN, CSPI

Man Yee Wong, BS, RPh, CSPI

Annual Report

2006 Annual Report

2005 Annual Report

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council promotes and enhances the mission of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) by providing support, guidance, and expertise in program and financial development.

Michael Bird, PhD, DABT
Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc.

George E. Dunaif, PhD, DABT
Campbell Soup Company

Eileen Hayes, ScD
Bristol Myers Squibb Company

Christopher LaBianco
Changing Our World, Inc.

Peter J. Lillo
Pete Lillo & Associates, Inc.

Marijane R. Lundt, MPA
Gateway Maternal & Child Health Consortium, Inc.

Roy W. Meyer, MS
NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Brian Perkins
Johnson & Johnson

Marion Reinson
To The Point Consulting

Kevin Rynn, PharmD, ABAT
Rutgers College of Pharmacy

Nancy Kelly-Goodstein
NJ Department of Health & Senior Services

Employment Opportunities

Health Educator

Exciting and diversified position available for a qualified Bachelor's prepared health educator at New Jersey's Poison Control Center. This position is part of a multi-disciplinary team approach to poison prevention. Responsibilities include: Coordination and implementation of existing public education and outreach programs, as well as, explore and initiate new communication channels and learning opportunities to promote the Poison Control Center. Requirements: Certification in Health Education. Bilingual preferred. F/T days, Mon-Fri. For immediate consideration: Email - agambino@njpies.org or Fax 973-643-2679.

Toxicology Management Specialists

Challenging positions available for RN's, MD's or Pharmacists at New Jersey's Regional Poison Control Center/NJ AIDS/STD Hotline. Responsibilities: Provide assessment and management of patients with follow-up for emergency care. Respond to informational telephone calls from health professionals and the public. Issues include: Toxicity of drugs, household and environmental chemicals, plants and targeted health issues. Opportunity to participate in research, publications and professional activities. Full-time, 12.5 hours shifts with rotation. Good communication skills, ED, ICU experience and bilingual preferred. For immediate consideration: Email - tjennis@njpies.org or Fax 973-643-2679.