Certified Specialists in Poison Information Providing Expert Guidance When It Matters Most
The Specialists in Poison Information (SPIs) who work at the Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) provide immediate, expert guidance in cases of poisoning or toxic exposure. SPIs are all trained professionals—often pharmacists or nurses with specialized toxicology training—who assess situations quickly, offer treatment recommendations, and help prevent unnecessary emergency room visits by advising on home management when appropriate.
Simón: My mom was a pharmacist, so, my whole life I’ve been around pharmacies and I’ve always thought they were cool. I was accepted into pharmacy school and heard the poison center was hiring PIPs (Poison Information Providers) so I jumped at the chance and was hired as a student. I just fell in love with the place—even more so after my fourth year when I had the opportunity to do a rotation at the UPCC.
Candice: My journey to the UPCC started later. After school, I worked in a bank, but it was never my passion. I’ve always loved science and healthcare, so I decided to go back to school and was accepted into the Pharmacy Program at the University of Utah. When I did a rotation at the UPCC, it all clicked. From the minute I started, I knew it was a place where I would never get bored. There’s something new to learn and do every day. And I continue to love the people. They’re an incredible group. We really, really care about our jobs and each other. It sounds cliche, but we’re like a family. We look out for one another.
Simón: When I first started answering the phones, it took practice to remain calm and to speak clearly and slowly—especially when I was talking with a worried parent—but I came to realize that by keeping a calm demeanor, the outcomes are better.
Candice: In addition to being on the phones, our role as supervisors involves a lot of training—both with our clinical staff and with the students on rotations. It’s cool to have the opportunity to teach the next generation of healthcare professionals on the toxicity of substances.
I also mentor several pharmacy students on research projects. This is rewarding because when students publish their research, it helps with the greater understanding of what happens in a poisoning. Poison center data are often the best data out there on what to expect and how to manage different types of poisonings.
Simón: In my role as a PIP Supervisor, I not only do a lot of recruiting of pharmacy students, I also help handle their toxicology training and teach them how to follow up with people who have called the center. There’s a whole process to train people to take calls and Candice and I share much of the load of getting people ready.
Candice: So many of our pharmacy students go out into the communities and they bring the knowledge they learned at the UPCC to the next level of their pharmacy careers. Many of our graduated PIPs have gone on to other poison centers throughout the country. So, the impact of our program can be felt across the United States.
We also play a big role in Utah’s public health. Many times, we’re the first to know about a public health threat or emergency, such as harmful algal blooms. We work closely with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to monitor them. We also do food poisoning reports and send cases to local health departments to make them aware when there may be a concern for the public.
Simón: I think our number one role is to make sure our callers and patients are safe, and that they’re getting good information and care. People have an inclination to go online and search for answers, but that information may be flat out wrong and create fear and panic. But here at the UPCC, we have highly-trained specialists who provide accurate and valid information. I can’t think of another health care situation where you can reach a trained professional for free, 24/7, who will answer your questions. There’s nothing else like it.
Candice: And because many of the calls involve substances that are minimally toxic and appropriate to monitor at home, we’re a big cost saving service. It’s all these things that make working at the UPCC so rewarding. I’m a helper by nature and I get to help people every single day. There’s no better feeling than having a parent say, “Thank you so much! I didn’t know what I was going to do,” or an ER doctor say, “Because of your help, I know how to manage this patient.”
Simón: I feel the exact same way as Candice. After every shift here, I feel like I made a difference for somebody—that I made a positive impact in somebody’s life. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
“If the poison center was not available, many people would take their children to the emergency room when they were unsure about the potential effects of something they were exposed to. But many of the calls the UPCC receives involve substances that are minimally toxic and appropriate to monitor at home. So, the UPCC is a huge cost saving service for a lot of people. Instead of a big ER bill, people can call a free service and get the guidance of pharmacists and experts in toxicology who can often help them safely monitor their child at home”
Source: Excerpt from the Utah Poison Control Center 2024 Annual Report