Who We Are - Texas Department of State Health Services

The Environmental and Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology Branch, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), jointly administers the Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN) with the Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC). The DSHS disseminates funding for the day-to-day operation of the six regional poison centers (see right) through an equalization surcharge on intrastate long-distance fees that is appropriated to CSEC and DSHS for poison center services.

Poisonings are a significant cause of injury and premature death in Texas. Yes, until the TPCN was created, very little was known about the scope and magnitude of the incidents in Texas. Analyzing the information collected from each human exposure call to the TPCN helps "paint the picture" of poisoning injuries in Texas. The DSHS epidemiologist identifies trends and patterns of poisonings in Texas to help target education and prevention innovations and services to reduce the impact of poisoning in Texas.