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| New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center |
| Formation | 1969 |
| Type | Nonprofit health organization |
| Headquarters | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Location | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Leader title | Director |
New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center is a regional poison control center serving the state of New Mexico and surrounding areas, providing telephone consultation, clinical toxicology expertise, and public education. The center operates within a network of American poison centers and is linked to tertiary care hospitals, academic institutions, and state health authorities to coordinate emergency response and patient management. It connects clinical practice with public safety through collaborations with hospitals, emergency medical services, and federal agencies.
The center functions as a 24-hour clinical contact point for cases involving pharmaceuticals, household chemicals, agricultural products, and illicit substances, interfacing with institutions such as Presbyterian Healthcare Services, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and regional emergency departments. Staffed by board-certified clinical toxicologists, pharmacists, and specially trained nurses, it uses resources like the American Association of Poison Control Centers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration to inform clinical guidance. The center contributes to public health surveillance systems including the National Poison Data System and cooperates with state agencies such as the New Mexico Department of Health and municipal services in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The center offers immediate telephone triage and case management for exposures to prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, pesticides, and industrial chemicals, liaising with emergency medical services including Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office EMS units and hospital emergency departments like University of New Mexico Hospital. It provides follow-up monitoring and toxicokinetic interpretation for agents regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Preventive programs include poison prevention for pediatric populations with partners such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia-style pediatric units, medication take-back initiatives coordinated with law enforcement agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police departments, and educational curricula for schools and community centers working with organizations such as AmeriCorps and Girl Scouts of the USA.
Founded in the late 1960s amid national expansion of poison centers influenced by leaders associated with institutions like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, the center evolved alongside federal initiatives including the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970. Governance typically involves oversight by health system executives and academic leaders from entities such as the University of New Mexico and boards composed of clinicians with affiliations to organizations like the American Medical Association and American Pharmacists Association. Historical collaborations have included regional hospitals, tribal health services in communities such as Navajo Nation and Pueblos of New Mexico, and federal public health programs from the Indian Health Service.
Operationally, the center maintains certified telephone triage lines, data management platforms interoperable with the National Poison Data System, and clinical protocols informed by journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of Toxicology. Funding sources combine state appropriations from legislative bodies like the New Mexico Legislature, contracts with healthcare systems including Lovelace Health System, grants from agencies such as the Health Resources and Services Administration, and philanthropic contributions linked to foundations similar to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In emergencies, it coordinates with federal emergency response frameworks including the National Incident Management System and regional disaster response partners like FEMA and state emergency operations centers.
The center engages in clinical research and surveillance, publishing findings in peer-reviewed outlets associated with professional societies like the American College of Medical Toxicology and the Society of Toxicology. Educational outreach targets clinicians, pharmacists, nurses, and community members through continuing medical education in collaboration with the Association of American Medical Colleges-affiliated programs, as well as public awareness campaigns modeled on national efforts by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the American Red Cross. It conducts targeted studies on opioid exposures, pediatric ingestions, and pesticide poisonings, sharing data with consortia such as the Infectious Diseases Society of America for broader public health relevance.
The center maintains partnerships with local and national institutions including university hospitals like the University of New Mexico Hospital, statewide public health agencies such as the New Mexico Department of Health, professional organizations like the American Association of Poison Control Centers, and federal partners including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accreditation and quality standards align with expectations from entities such as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities-style bodies and practice guidelines from the American Board of Medical Specialties and Joint Commission. Collaborative agreements extend to tribal health authorities, county health offices in Doña Ana County, New Mexico and Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and emergency services across the Southwest corridor including El Paso, Texas health systems.
Category:Poison control centers in the United States Category:Healthcare in New Mexico