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Project Name: Poison Control Stabilization and Enhancement Program (H4B)
Applicant Title: NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER, THE
Abstract Text: Address: 988170 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-8170 Project Director Name: Kathy Jacobitz, MHA, BSN, RN, CSPI Contact Phone Number: xxx-xxx-xxxx Contact Fax Number: xxx-xxx-xxxx E-Mail Address: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Web Site Address: nebraskapoison.com Grant Program Funds: HRSA Poison Control Centers Program NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED: In 2022, U.S. poison centers (PCs) provided treatment guidance for 2,064,875 human poison exposures; 23.8% of those cases originated from health care facilities (HCFs). While total human exposure case volume showed a 0.771% decline from 2021, the number of HCF cases managed by PCs increased by 0.214%. PC encounters regarding human exposure cases with more serious outcomes (moderate, major or death) have increased 4.41% per year since 2000 (2022 Annual Report of the National Poison Data System from America’s Poison Centers: Clinical Toxicology, 2023, Vol. 61, No. 10). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for ages 1-44; the leading cause of death from those injuries is poisonings (Injuries and Violence Are Leading Causes of Death | Injury Center | CDC, cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/animated-leading-causes.html). Since 1999, more than one million people have died from drug overdoses. Synthetic opioids (fentanyl) are currently the cause for most drug overdose deaths. Of the 106,699 U.S. drug overdose deaths that were reported in 2021, 80,411 were from opioids (Drug Overdose Deaths | Drug Overdose | CDC Injury Center, cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/index.html). These statistics demonstrate the on-going need for the expert toxicology assistance that PCs provide to both health care professionals and the public. PROPOSED SERVICES: The purpose of the Nebraska Poison Center Services Project (Project) is to reduce poisonings and morbidity and mortality from poisonings by supporting the provision of poison prevention and poison treatment services throughout the Nebraska Poison Center’s (NPC) region. Project goals are: 1) The NPC will provide high quality poison information and treatment recommendations for poisonings on a 24-hour basis throughout Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia. 2) The NPC will support the provision of public education on poison prevention and response throughout the NPC’s region. 3) The NPC will comply with operational requirements needed to sustain accreditation by America’s Poison Centers. The project provides support to the NPC for staffing its 24-hour poison information service with qualified healthcare professionals and provides support for materials and personnel to provide public education throughout the region. Project Objectives: 1) The NPC will utilize specialists in poison information (SPIs) to provide high quality poison information, treatment recommendations, and follow up for poisonings for healthcare professionals and the public throughout its region. At least 70% of the NPC’s SPIs will be certified by America’s Poison Centers. 2) The NPC will assure high quality poison information and treatment recommendation services throughout its region by utilizing a medical toxicologist who provides medical direction, clinical supervision of SPIs, and 24/7 telephone consultations with SPIs and health care providers. 3) The NPC will facilitate educational outreach by working with public health and educational partners throughout its region to identify needs and form new partnerships to increase the number of public education poison prevention outreach activities, programs and materials distributed each year. POPULATION GROUPS TO BE SERVED: The Nebraska Poison Center serves the entire populations of Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia.