CNY Poison Control Center to take calls from Hudson Valley residents

The Central New York Poison Control Center (CNYPCC) will temporarily handle poison emergency calls from residents who used to contact the Hudson Valley Poison Center.

A disagreement over the termination of the director of the Hudson Valley Poison Center, based at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center, led to a walkout by posion center staff and effectively shut down operations yesterday.

"We were contacted by Phelps hospital officials and asked if we could provide temporary service until the center there is back in business," said Dr. Christine Stork, CNYPCC director. "We told them 'Yes,' and we have been taking calls from residents of the Hudson Valley Poison Center's service area throughout the day."

Phone calls placed to the Hudson Valley Poison Center at 1-800-336-6997 are being switched directly to the Central New York Poison Control Center. "Callers will see no difference or disruption in service," Stork said.

Stork noted that additional Poison Control staff were added to handle the increased call volume. "We have fully trained poison center certified nurses and pharmacists on staff at all times," she said.

Stork said the CNYPCC will continue to answer poison emergency and information calls from its service area, which comprises 14 counties throughout Central New York.

"We expect to be handling calls from the Hudson Valley for the next three months, but we'll provide this service for as long as necessary," Stork said.

The Central New York Poison Control Center is a regional certified center of the American Association of Poison Control Centers and is affiliated with University Hospital of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University.