What type of training does the staff at a Poison Center have?
Specialists in Poison Information (SPI’s), those individuals who provide the first line of care in our system, can be pharmacists, nurses, physicians or physician’s assistants. Once hired, the new specialist is given approximately 40 hours of didactic work and 4-6 months of supervised clinical training. During the training period every case handled by the new specialist is reviewed, as are the audio recordings of their case interactions. Training programs are individualized and geared towards what the specialist needs. As confidence and competence are built, higher acuity level cases are authorized to be handled. Of note, the Specialists are never alone in that there is always a board-certified toxicologist available 24 hours a day to discuss cases if the need arises. At the end of 2000 hours experience and the handling of 2000 cases, the SPI becomes eligible to sit for the national SPI certification examination administered by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC)
