FacilitiesPoison Control Centers

Section § 1798.180

Explanation

This law requires the authority to set minimum standards for how poison control centers should operate. They must also define regions for these centers and criteria for their designation. Only qualified entities that meet specific conditions can claim to be a poison control center. Unqualified entities cannot use terms related to poison control in advertising or public materials unless approved or if they provide product-specific advice. Healthcare professionals can still offer poisoning advice to patients based on their expertise.

(a)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.180(a)  The authority shall establish minimum standards for the operation of poison control centers.
(b)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.180(b)  The authority shall establish geographical service areas and criteria for designation of regional poison control centers. The authority may designate poison control centers which have met the standards established pursuant to subdivision (a), in accordance with the criteria adopted pursuant to this subdivision.
(c)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.180(c)  No person or persons, business, agency, organization, or other entity, whether public or private, shall hold itself out as providing a poison advice service or use the term poison control center, poison advice center, or any other term which implies that it is qualified to provide advice on the treatment or handling of poisons in its advertising, name, or in printed materials and information it furnishes to the general public unless that entity meets one of the following conditions:
(1)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.180(c)(1)  Has been designated as a poison control center by the authority.
(2)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.180(c)(2)  Is a company or organization which provides a poison information service for products or chemicals which it manufactures or distributes.
(d)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.180(d)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit a qualified health care professional, within his or her level of professional expertise, from providing advice regarding poisoning or poisons to his or her patient or patients upon request or whenever he or she deems it warranted in the exercise of his or her professional judgment, as otherwise permitted by law.
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Section § 1798.181

Explanation

If the authority finds that merging poison control centers will save money, it must do so.

The authority shall consolidate the number of poison control centers if it is determined by the authority that the consolidation will result in cost savings.
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Section § 1798.182

Explanation

This law allows a California poison control center to hire an out-of-state entity to provide poison control services during certain times. This is only possible if the California center can't provide services 24/7 and the out-of-state entity offers similar services as those required by California law. Additionally, the out-of-state entity's staff doesn't have to be licensed in California if they are licensed in their own state.

The authority may authorize a poison control center, instead of providing poison control services directly, to contract with an entity in another state to provide poison control services during any part of the 24-hour period for which the center is required to provide poison control services, if both of the following conditions are met:
(a)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.182(a)  The center is unable to provide poison control services 24 hours a day.
(b)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.182(b)  The entity in the other state provides substantially the same poison control services as required under Section 1798.180, and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. An entity in another state shall not be deemed not to provide substantially the same poison control services solely because the staff of the entity is licensed in the other state, and not licensed in the State of California.
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Section § 1798.183

Explanation

This law allows the authority in charge of poison control centers to decide if a center should operate for less than 24 hours each day, based on what's needed.

The authority may authorize a poison control center to provide poison control services for fewer than 24 hours a day, as the authority deems necessary.
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