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Project Name: Poison Control Stabilization and Enhancement Program (H4B)
Applicant Title: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO
Abstract Text: Project Title: Poison Center Network Applicant Name: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Address: 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, 4.417 L, San Antonio TX 78229-3900 Project Director: Naushad Noor Contact Phone #s: Office xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx Email Address: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Grant/CFDA No.: HRSA-24-045-PCCP/93.253 The South Texas Poison Center (STPC) operates as an accredited poison control center under America’s Poison Centers (APC), playing a crucial role in the Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN). Established by the state legislature, TPCN connects six institution-based poison control centers to provide services statewide. Despite using a unified telephony network, STPC faces unique challenges in reaching various segments of our communities. Coping with a significantly higher call volume requires increased staffing to deliver comprehensive poison control services amidst a tough funding environment. STPC serves 47 counties across 85,322 square kilometers in South Texas, catering to over 5.1 million people, exceeding the populations of several states. Our region encompasses diverse landscapes, including urban centers, rural areas, and border communities, often labeled as medically underserved. These areas are home to a predominantly bilingual, multicultural population facing economic and educational disparities. Despite financial constraints, our carefully chosen and trained team of bilingual and bicultural poison specialists and community educators remain committed to meeting the varied needs and backgrounds of our diverse population. Through their unwavering support, we maintain a reliable, effective, and efficient provision of poison prevention and control telemedicine services, staying true to our overarching goals. The services provided by the South Texas Poison Center are underutilized, particularly in rural and border communities, especially among Spanish-speaking individuals. It is crucial for STPC to enhance public awareness of poison center services through culturally sensitive educational initiatives, alongside expanding and innovating professional education and introducing full-time medical and management oversight. This is necessary for STPC to sustain its delivery of quality services and extend its reach into medically underserved communities. Continued expansion of services is expected to lead to significant reductions in public healthcare costs by reducing unnecessary emergency department visits, clinic appointments, ambulance transports, and inappropriate medical interventions, while also improving care delivery through telemedical toxicology consultations.