Who We Are - Commission on State Emergency Communications

The Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) oversees the telecommunications infrastructure of the TPCN. DSHS, through an interagency contract with CSEC, disseminates grant funds to the six regional poison centers.   CSEC oversees and is responsible for the operation of the telecommunications equipment which serves the TPCN.  Staff works with vendors and poison center staffs to monitor network problems and facilitates resolutions; monitors statistical reports that outline the daily call volume activity of the network; coordinates the network’s telecommunications project and budgets; and supports DSHS in assessing grant proposals.

Though public access to the TPCN through the former 1-800-POISON-1 number began in September 1994, it was not until March 1996 that the fully integrated telecommunications network began operation.  The telecommunications network, managed by the CSEC and provisioned through the Department of Information Resources (DIR), offers each center the ability to answer calls from any location in the state (though service areas are still geographic in nature).

Prior to implementing the telecommunication and medical reference databases in March 1996, each regional Poison Center could serve only limited portions of the state. The telecommunications system implemented in 1996 provides on-line medical reference databases, computer telephony integration, automatic call distribution, archival recording and call transfer capabilities.  In 2002, Congress authorized funding for a national poison control program, which led to the implementation of a nationwide, toll free number, 1-800-222-1222. 

The nationwide number has replaced the POISON-1 number; however, it functions in the same manner.  In 2006, the telecommunications system was converted to a Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP).  This new technology will provide cost-effective methods for ensuring that the equipment utilized by the TPCN is state-of-the-art.