Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center - Banner Poison Control Center

What is it?

The Banner Good Samaritan Poison and Drug Information Center (BGSPDIC) is a free, 24-hour emergency telephone service for Arizona residents and medical professionals. The hotline is staffed by nurses and poison information providers, highly trained in the recognition and assessment of poisonings, first aid and drug information. BGSPDIC is certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Department of Medical Toxicology provides 24-hour physician support to the poison center. BGSPDIC is made possible by a combination of funding from Banner Health System, Valley of the Sun United Way, the state of Arizona, and the federal government.

Who is it for?

Arizona residents including physicians and first responders.

Why do they do it?

The center receives more than 110,000 calls annually. About 23,000 calls involve poison exposures in children ages 5 and younger, and more than 5,000 calls involve seniors. Each year in Maricopa County, more than 11,000 people are bitten or stung by rattlesnakes, scorpions, spiders, and other critters. Approximately 80 percent of poisonings can be treated at home.

Impact

BGSPDIC prevents an estimated 45,000 emergency department (ED) visits per year. The nurses perform an assessment to ensure that only those callers that need medical care are referred into an ED. More than 10,000 residents of Maricopa County Arizona were directly given poison prevention information and given 1-800-222-1222 if they needed assistance with any type of poisoning problem. An additional 65,000 residents received printed material that encouraged prevention but in addition gave the hotline number in case of a question or poisoning.

Contact: Ann-Marie Krueger MPH, CPH
BGSPDIC, Community Educator
Telephone: 602-839-2510
E-mail: ann-marie.krueger@bannerhealth.com