Charleston / West Virginia / United States
About Our Poison Center The West Virginia Poison Center ( WVPC ) offers assessment and emergency treatment advice on accidental exposures to medications and household substances, plant ingestions, snake, spider and other insect bites and stings, chemical spills, occupational exposures, and drug overdoses. The WVPC was established in 1979 and is located on the West Virginia University Charleston Division Campus. It was recognized as West Virginias only poison center in 1986. In that same year, the WVPC became a Certified Regional Poison Center, one of only 54 in the United States. The certification has been granted again due to superior work and strict adherence to the guidelines. Funding for the WVPC is provided by WVU Charleston Division, WVU, West Virginia Legislature, member hospitals, grants and donations. The poison center staff consists of the Director, Medical Director, Community Outreach Coordinator, Program Specialist and eight Registered Nurses ( RN ). Each call to the poison center is answered by a Specialist in Poison Information who is specially trained in the management of poisoning emergencies. Qualified staff become Certified Specialists in Poison Information. This is the result of extensive work in the area of toxicology and an exam. The WVPC utilizes many different resources for recommendations of patient treatment. Computer data banks as well as a comprehensive toxicological library are on hand for the most up to date information. Specialty consultants are also on call 24 hours a day for expert information on complex cases.
