Washington poison center

A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 1 — 2 0 1 2

2 0 1 1 — 2 0 1 2

Annual Report

About the Washington Poison Center

The Washington Poison Center provides 24-hour emergency medical assistance, information, and

education about toxic substances or suspected poisons to the public and to health care profession-

als. By calling 1-800-222-1222, callers can speak immediately to pharmacists, nurses, and poison

experts who instantly access multiple databases containing information on millions of products and

their ingredients. Under the guidance of medical toxicologists, staff members recommend treat-

ment or provide information about medications, drugs, chemicals, and environmental toxins.

We’re free and confidential

The Washington Poison Center is just here to help! We are not a reporting agency, so call as

many times as necessary to keep your family safe. Everyday we handle hundreds of questions about

medications, chemical interactions, street drugs, over-the-counter medications, and environmental

hazards.

We help reduce health care costs

According to the 2012 Lewin Group report, poison centers save $13.39 in overall medical costs

for every dollar invested in a poison center. We do that by handling 93% of non-health care facility

calls from their calling location, rather than going to an emergency department or urgent care fa-

cility. Calling a poison center is smart: callers reduce costs by avoiding medical utilization, reduce

the length of hospital stay, and reduce work-loss days due to injury.

2011 –2012 Board Members

Officers- President: Petra Eichelsdoerfer, ND, MS, RPh, Tulalip Clinical Pharmacy Treasurer: Joel Kaufman, MD, MPH UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Secretary: Tim Perciful King County Fire District No. 44 Directors- Karyn Beckley, Pacific Medical Centers Kevin P. Graham, Mayes Testing Engineers, Inc. Jennifer Kupka, Bartell Drugs Matthew Rice, MD, JD, FACEP Eileen Whalen, Harborview Medical Center, Executive Director Steven D. Wanaka, RPh, Seattle Children’s Hospital James Neicheril, Toxicologist – Certifying Scientist Mark Martzen, Bastyr University Non-Voting Ex-Official Members- James H. Williams, MBA Washington Poison Center, Executive Director William T. Hurley, MD, FACEP Washington Poison Center, Medical Director Janet Kastl Washington State Department of Health Scott Hogan, MHA Washington State Department of Health Page 2

William O. Robertson, MD 1925—2011

Our founder and dear friend, Dr. William O. Robertson,

passed away on November 30, 2011. He began his career in

Rochester, New York, but soon began teaching pediatrics at

Yale University before heading to Ohio State University (OSU)

to chair the Department of Pediatrics. In the mid 1950s, Dr.

Robertson came to the Pacific Northwest . Over the next five

decades he held multiple and concurrent positions including:

attending physician, the Director of Medical Education at Seat-

tle Children’s, the Chair of Pediatrics at the UW, and Medical

Director and Medical Director Emeritus for the Washington

Poison Center.

Dr. Robertson, was one of the guiding forces behind the Ameri-

can Association of Poison Control Centers and served as the Secretary / Treasurer for years. He

always considered the patient first and was not quick to send patients into emergency rooms,

choosing the least stressful approach for the patient. Dr. R had fifty years of experience to draw

upon, which often gave him a unique perspective; he was able to recall treatments that had been

used in decades past that are still relevant today, treatments that younger healthcare professionals

are not always aware of. ”

While Dr. R was not the creator of Mr. Yuk, the iconic figure that warns children and adults of

poison danger, he certainly was an early adopter and supporter.

Dr. Robertson was the consummate gentleman, and generally wore a three-piece suit and a plaid

bowtie. He was well known for his wicked sense of humor, love of salt, all things chocolate, and his

fierce devotion and love for his family. Active up to the last months of his life, he played a weekly

game of tennis with his grandkids.

The Washington Poison Center staff greatly miss Dr. R. Page 3

C a l l s p e r c o u n t y

Page 4

H o w a r e w e f u n d e d ?

State Contracts $1,968,030

Grants $447,911

Private Donations $31,559

In-kind Contributions $65,874

Corporate Donations $51,723

Educational & Data Sales $108,499

Total $2,673,596

H o w a r e o u r f u n d s s p e n t ?

Salaries/Benefits $1,867,547

Medical Direction $226,425

Non-personnel expenses $136,857

Facility $153,685

Maintenance/Service $95,974

Databases/IT/Telephones $152,510

Depreciation $71,763

Total $2,704,760

18,000—10,000

9,999—6,000

5,999—4,000

3,999—1,200

1,199— 100

N u m b e r o f C a l l s

P e r C o u n t y

Page 5

A g e s o f P e o p l e w e h e l p

< 5 years of age 31,082

Child 6—12 3830

Teen 13—19 4084

Adults 20—39 8743

Adults 40—79 10,036

Older Adults 80+ 917

Unknown 8636

Total 67,328

R e a s o n s f o r C a l l i n g

Human Exposures 57,730

Animal Exposures 71

Information Calls 9,127

Total 67,328

W h e r e w e r e t h e y t r e a t e d ?

Residence/home/workplace/public area 45,401

Health Care Facility 11,032

Refused Referral 531

Other/unknown 1,358

Total 58,322

W h e r e w e r e t h e y p o i s o n e d ?

Residence 52,344

Workplace 1,071

Health Care Facility 822

School 669

Food Service 228

Public Area 179

Other/Unknown 2,417

Total 57,730

C a l l s p e r c o u n t y

S t a t i s t i c s

Page 6

O u r s p o n s o r s

H o s p i t a l s

Island Hospital

Kadlec Medical Center

Morton General Hospital

North Sound Emergency Medicine

Othello Community Hospital

Providence Centralia Hospital

Providence Everett Medical Center

Providence Holy Family Hospital

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

& Children’s Hospital

Providence Services

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center

Samaritan Healthcare

Seattle Children’s Hospital

Sunnyside Community Hospital

UW Medical

Wenatchee Valley Medical Center

Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center

Y o u r S u p p o r t M a t t e r s !

C o r p o r a t e s p o n s o r s &

F o u n d a t i o n s

London Health Center, Inc.

Madigan-Puyallup Community Medical Home

Pharmacy

Pediatric Associates

Puget Sound Energy Foundation

Seattle Foundation (GiveBig)

The Johnson Family

The University Lions Foundation

The Woods Family

Ziff Employee Allocation Gift Fund

P o i s o n P r e v e n t i o n W e e k &

Y u k S t i c k e r S p o n s o r s

Umpqua Bank

Bartell Drugs

The Washington Poison Center is the only stand-alone non-profit Poison Center in the nation.

While the majority of our funding comes from several state contracts and a small federal grant,

they do not cover the entire cost of providing our services to the public. We depend on the sup-

port and donations from businesses, foundations, hospitals and the residents of Washington State.

With their help, we are able to provide a 24 / 7 safety net, public and professional education to

keep our communities safe. We’d like to acknowledge their generous support.

Page 7

s u p p o rt m r . y u k

2 0 1 1 — 2 0 1 2 D o n o r s

Jennifer Abermanis Margaret Adams Melonie Anderson Mike Andresen Jenifer Anhar Jason and Sherry Apfel Harry B. Aubrey Gloria Bassage-Clock Gordon Bennett John & Kelli Bernhard Douglas & Deanna Berry Janice Binks BreeAna Blalock Sarah Boal Barbara Bowden Brad Brahe David & Lona Brask Kristen Bryant Danielle Burd Timothy Callahan Larry & Geraldine Carey Fred & Pi Cheney Adrienne Chew Steven & Karen Churchill Wesley Clark Amiee Coulliette Robert & Dorene Cropley Joe & Angela Cropley Beth Davidow, DVM, DACVECC Mark Del Beccaro Johanna Dickerson Paisley Dixon John & Sandra Dixon Dennis Dudder Cliff Duggan Petra Eichelsdoerfer Frannie Ein Curtis Elko Rudy Erchinger Aanand & Kelly Esterberg Patricia Frank Joan & David Gibson Gregory Goode Wendy Graff Vicki & Gary Griffiths Colleen Haiber Stanford & Sandra Hanson Kevin & Bobbi Harrison

Amy Hart Michael & Terese Hartmann Dr. Noah & Noemi Hastings Gretchen Haupert Ruth Herold Timothy Hoefel Barbara Hoffer Scott Hogan David & Kate Hughes Stephen & Lorrie Hume Wm. Gregory Hunicutt Sandi & Herold Hunt Dr. William & Karen Hurley Robert Hyatt Jeremy & Samsara Irish Janet Jay Wendy Jones Laurie Jorgensen Paul & Kim Katovich Thomas & Leona King Don Klompeen Kerry Robertson Kuenzi Matt & Jennifer Kupka Cynthia Langer Smith Mike & Helen Langeslay Jessica Lasher Jessica Lawrence Michele Livingston Matt & Gretchen Loschen Shirley Lutz David & Deborah Lycette Lorelei Madriaga Kenneth Mah Ralph Maimon Emily Jo Mancinelli Barbara Marquardt Mark Martzen Suzanne Mazor Christopher & Carrie McCarthy Michael McCool Tricia McDowell Megan Mcintyre Tracy McKay Kelly McLean Will & Doris Medlicott Pat Minzel David Misner Eric & Karen Mittet

Gretchen Mueller Robb & Lisa Myers Susan Myers Eric & Judy Nelson Allen & Margaret Nelson Sid Nelson Marie Norton-Olsen Dr. John & Lynda Olerud Kent Opheim, PhD Mary Perkins Suzanne Petersen Debra Peterson Elizabeth Porter Rosey Porter Brigette Quichocho Melinda Rajacich Dr. Rasmussen Leocadie Robertson Sharon Romines Kate Ryan Jason & Suzanne Ryning Ann Sauer M & C Scheer Debora Schultz Kathleen Schwarz Colleen Shannon Cynthia & David Shurtleff Irene Simons Casey Smith Elaine Smith Margaret Snyder Julleen Snyder Ann Staberg Sue Stern Sheryl Stiefel Terri Suzuki Michael & Susie Tracy Norbert Van dam Fred & Katie Von Derau Greg & Jennifer Waldref Steve Wanaka Dr. Joe & Pat Wearn Eileen Whalen Richard & Katy Wilkens The Williams Family L. Windsor Ruth Wolfe Barbara Yoshida Watanabe, MD

s u p p o rt m r . y u k

W a y s y o u c a n h e l p

Direct Contributions

You can make a direct contribution by contacting the

Development office or mailing a donation to:

Washington Poison Center

155 NE 100th Street, #100

Seattle, WA 98125-8007

1-800-572-4104 x2367

Workplace Giving

You can contribute through a payroll deduction plan by

designating the Washington Poison Center as your charity

of choice in any workplace giving campaign like United

Way, coalition for Charitable Choice, or Community

Health Charities of Washington.

Workplace Matching Programs

Some workplaces will match any contribution you make.

Please contact your human resources department to de-

termine if your company will double your gift.

Planned Giving

Please contact us if you would like information about

including the Washington Poison Center in your will or

bequest.

Washington Poison Center

155 NE 100th Street, #100

Seattle, WA 98125

Phone: 206-517-2350

Fax: 206-526-8490

E-mail: development@wapc.org

www.wapc.org

www.facebook.com/MrYukWA

www.twitter.com/MrYukWA

“I was surprised when my consulting nurse transferred me to the poison center when I accidentally took the wrong insulin. I am almost certain I would have slipped into diabetic coma during the night had “Lisa” from the poison center not been involved in monitoring and guid-ing me for over six hours until I was stabilized.

I was unaware poison control could help someone in this kind of situation. Usually, when I hear “Poison Control” I think of small children getting into medications or clean-ers . . . now I have a whole new appreciation for the poi-son center!”

Joan S., Seattle