Upstate New York Poison Center has grown, evolved over 60 years
In 1957, the first year of operation, 163 calls came in about accidental poisonings. Today the Upstate New York Poison Center fields some 50,000 calls per year from people and health care providers within the 54 counties of Upstate New York, explains Lee Livermore, public education coordinator. What started as a collaboration between Upstate's department of pediatrics and the Syracuse Department of Health has evolved into a 24-hour center staffed by Upstate nurses, pharmacists and physicians with expertise in toxicology. The center provides public education in addition to providing rotations to medical students, residents and fellows. It can be reached at 800-222-1222 or, in an emergency, 911.