Tennessee Poison Center

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) establishes standards for poison control centers in the United States. The purpose of accreditation is to ensure that all residents of a given geographic area have access to the highest quality of certified poison center services. Certification criteria include poison information services, regional treatment capabilities, data collection capabilities, and professional and public education program. Once a poison center meets these standards, they may apply for accreditation to become a nationally certified poison center. In the United States there are 57 poison control centers in the U.S.Tennessee Poison Center achieved national accreditation in 1996.

Accreditation criteria include:

• Provide information 24 hours/day, 365 days/year to both health professionals and the public.
• Provide full-time toxicological supervision.
• Identify the treatment capabilities of the treatment facilities of the region.
• Provide information on the management of poisoning to the health professionals throughout the region who care for poisoned patients.
• Provide a variety of public education activities.

For more information on the American Association of Poison Control Centers, visit their web site at www.aapcc.org.