This year marked a significant milestone for the Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) as it celebrated its 70th anniversary serving Utah residents. The UPCC was established in 1954, making it the second oldest center in the United States. There are 54 poison centers across the United States, together they make up the America’s Poison Centers. Since the beginning the UPCC has been certified as a Regional Poison Control Center by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) ensuring the highest quality of standards.
Poison control centers have grown and evolved since their early beginnings. Looking back, it all started in the 1950s when the American Academy of Pediatrics established an injury prevention committee to address the issue of childhood poisoning. At the time, poisoning was one of the most common causes of injury in children, and there was a shortage of reliable information on product ingredients. By 1953, the Chicago chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics had set up the first poison center, which began collecting and disseminating product information to help pediatricians treat children who had ingested household chemicals.
Soon after, Utah’s first poison control center was established in 1954 at the Salt Lake General Hospital by pediatrician Dr. Alan K. Done. Dr. Done’s pioneering efforts in Utah were part of this growing national effort. A significant turning point came in 1971 when Dr. Anthony R. Temple, a chief pediatric resident at the University of Utah, partnered with Dr. Done to develop the idea of regional poison centers. The goal was to extend poison control services to broader communities, making them accessible to anyone who needed help, not just physicians. This forward-thinking concept led to the creation of the Intermountain Regional Poison Control Center (IRPCC), which was established in 1971 in a room adjacent to the emergency department at University Hospital. In 1992 the name was changed to the Utah Poison Control Center to reflect the service area more accurately.
A file card system was the first product reference system available to poison centers. However, in the 1970’s the original product reference cards were replaced with microfiche. Product information transitioned again in the late 1980’s into a computer-based library. Electronic resources have continued to evolve with technology. A variety of online product repositories are now available to poison centers allowing them to provide accurate and up-to-date advice today.
Many pharmacy students and medical students have trained and worked at the poison center over the years. The program grew and flourished, and staffing changed from a primarily student run program to a paid dedicated staff and eventually 24-hour staffing consisting of pharmacists and nurses. The poison center outgrew the space in the University Hospital moving in 1993 to University of Utah Research Park. Finally, in 2013, UPCC moved to its current location on the University of Utah Campus in the L.S. Skaggs Pharmacy Research Building.
Early funding was obtained from the Utah Department of Health as well as other sources over the years including federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Throughout the 1990s, the center struggled to fund this important public health service. The Utah State Legislature provided crucial support in 1998 when it established a surcharge on phone lines to fund poison control services. This legislation ensured stable funding for the UPCC and allowed the center to operate 24/7 and expand its services throughout the state. In 2014, primary funding transitioned to a direct state line appropriation, ensuring sustained financial support for its vital operations.
Today the UPCC continues to be a valuable resource providing free, expert, confidential poison help around-the-clock. The Specialists in Poison Information answering the Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) are pharmacists who have additional training in clinical toxicology. Board certified medical and clinical toxicologists are always on hand to provide additional support and expertise. The UPCC outreach education team maintains its dedication to poison prevention by actively engaging with the community and health professionals in a variety of ways including, presentations, health/safety fair participation, social media, lessons and programs for all ages, games, on-demand learning, and many other resources available on the UPCC website. These programs focus on what to do when a poisoning happens and how to prevent a poisoning. All of this has been made possible and successful through the guidance of the exceptional Poison Control Center Directors and Medical Directors throughout the years.
Poisoning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States and in Utah. When you call the poison center you speak with an expert who can quickly understand your situation and provide key recommendations. As we celebrate the past 70 years of the Utah Poison Control Center helping save lives, we look forward to the future forever committed to reducing poisoning-related injury and death in Utah. Here’s to another 70 years of excellence in poison treatment, education and prevention!