Seeking Patient Care?
The University of Miami Department of Pediatrics is home to South Florida’s poison control center – one of only 55 regional poison centers in the United States. The Florida Poison Information Center – Miami processes calls to the national 1-800-222-1222 Poison Help® line from Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, Lee and Collier Counties. Our Certified Poison Information Specialists answer questions from the public and offer treatment advice to healthcare providers managing poisonings of all types, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Poison specialists are licensed doctors, nurses and pharmacists. The Florida Poison Information Center – Miami is certified as a Regional Poison Control Center by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (www.aapcc.org) and is one of three poison centers in Florida (www.floridapoisoncontrol.org).
The poison control center at UM/Jackson Medical Center treats approximately 30,000 poisonings a year. Within minutes, our poison specialists assess whether exposures require treatment in a healthcare facility or if they can be safely handled over the phone. Many poisonings in children, for instance, are effectively managed at home with our expertise, saving time and healthcare costs. Serious poisonings are referred to emergency care and the poison center provides the treating hospital with clinical guidance as needed. Florida’s poison control centers are funded through the Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services division.
Today’s common poisonings involve prescription or over-the-counter medications, household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, plants and mushrooms, illicit drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements. Less common exposures involve venomous animals such as snakes, spiders and jellyfish, foodborne illness (also known as food “poisoning”) and industrial or occupational exposures
For detailed information about who gets poisoned in Florida: https://floridapoisoncontrol.org/poisoning-data/
Administrative Staff
Richard S. Weisman PharmD, FAACT
Jeffrey N. Bernstein, M.D. – Medical Director
Eve Jerez – Program Administrator
Lenys Klumpp – Government and Community Relations Coordinator
Wendy Stephan, Ph.D. – Health Education Coordinator