The Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC) is the regional poison center serving Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. It is nationally accredited through the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
What does the NNEPC do?
The NNEPC provides a free, 24-hour poison emergency and information hotline. The hotline serves the general public and health care professionals and has interpretation services for over 150 languages.
The NNEPC educates the general public and health care professionals on how to prevent and respond to poisonings.
What is the value of NNEPC?
The NNEPC manages more than 30,000 poisonings a year. Of those who call the poison center from their home, nine out of ten are treated with over-the-phone advice and do not need to go to the hospital.
Over-the-phone treatment advice keeps poisonings out of already-full hospital emergency departments, and also improves health outcomes and decreases length of stay for those who do have to go to the hospital. On the whole, poison center treatment advice saves more than $13 for every $1 spent.
Who works at the NNEPC?
Hotline staff:
The NNEPC hotline is staffed by health care professionals who are highly trained in toxicology (poisons and poisonings):
- Specialists in Poison Information (SPIs) – Nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants and doctors.
- Poison Information Providers (PIPs) – Professionals with a health or science background, such as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). PIPs work under the supervision of a SPI.
| Directors: | ||
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Dr. Karen Simone is the director of the NNEPC. She is a doctor of pharmacy, a Diplomate of the American Board of Applied Toxicology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology. Dr. Simone oversees the day-to-day operations of the poison center, including management of calls, emergency preparedness activities, staff education, educational outreach, research and funding. She also provides in-depth backup 24-hour toxicological consultation for health care professionals.
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Dr. Tamas (Tom) Peredy is the medical director of the NNEPC. He is a physician boarded in emergency medicine and medical toxicology. Dr. Peredy oversees the clinical management of calls and provides in-depth 24-hour backup toxicological consultation for health care professionals. Dr. Peredy provides toxicology education for physicians in training. |
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| Educators: | ||
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The NNEPC has a health educator in each state who coordinates poison prevention programs. |
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Maine: Becky Miller is a registered nurse with over 20 years of poison center experience. She is both the Maine educator and a SPI on the hotline. She has a master’s degree in public health and is a certified health education specialist. |
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New Hampshire: Laurie Warnock joined the poison center in 2011. She has a background in emergency medical services and a master’s degree in public health. |
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Vermont: Gayle Finkelstein has worked for the poison center since 2006 and has a master’s degree in nursing. |
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| Administrative Staff: | ||
| The NNEPC administrative staff supports the day-to-day functions of the poison center, including educational programming, grant applications and reporting. | ||
Who funds the NNEPC?
- Maine Medical Center, a member of the MaineHealth Family
- The Maine Department of Health and Human Services
- The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
- The Vermont Department of Health
- Fletcher Allen Health Care
- The United Way
The Northern New England Poison Center is also supported by funds received through grant #H4BHS15557 and #U4BHS19185, awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The contents of this site are solely the responsibility of the Northern New England Poison Center and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Healthcare Preparedness, Healthcare Systems Bureau.
