A lifeline in crisis, poison centers are often overlooked as a vital part of the country's public health infrastructure. These 53 regional centers, staffed by medical professionals trained in toxicology, provide not only reassurance but also lifesaving first aid guidance and valuable data surveillance.
Each year, poison centers handle over 3.3 million encounters, with an average severity of cases increasing in recent years. According to a new report from RAND, these centers save about $3.1 billion every year in healthcare and productivity costs, providing a return on investment of $16.77 for every dollar spent.
Despite this success, poison centers face significant funding challenges. Budget cuts have threatened their ability to carry out their lifesaving mission, with federal funding not adjusted for inflation in over a decade. The average operating costs for a poison center range from $1.2 million to $7.2 million, excluding subsidized support. With federal funding supporting only about half of this cost, centers rely on Medicaid and other sources.
These institutions have expanded their services to address emerging health crises, including emergency preparedness and response, as well as conducting research and providing telehealth delivery. However, these "ancillary functions" require poison centers to offer additional services beyond their core toxicology work, generating revenue through government or industry contracts.
As the country grapples with a rising tide of preventable poisonings, with over 100,000 deaths reported in 2023 alone, it is imperative that we prioritize funding for these critical centers. With potentially unreliable and unvetted information online, poison centers staffed by trained professionals are a vital lifeline in crisis.
If you want to find your local poison center and support them, click here to learn more about the network's mission, its data system, which is the only near-real-time public health surveillance system of its kind in the US, and how you can help ensure that this vital resource remains accessible to everyone.
Each year, poison centers handle over 3.3 million encounters, with an average severity of cases increasing in recent years. According to a new report from RAND, these centers save about $3.1 billion every year in healthcare and productivity costs, providing a return on investment of $16.77 for every dollar spent.
Despite this success, poison centers face significant funding challenges. Budget cuts have threatened their ability to carry out their lifesaving mission, with federal funding not adjusted for inflation in over a decade. The average operating costs for a poison center range from $1.2 million to $7.2 million, excluding subsidized support. With federal funding supporting only about half of this cost, centers rely on Medicaid and other sources.
These institutions have expanded their services to address emerging health crises, including emergency preparedness and response, as well as conducting research and providing telehealth delivery. However, these "ancillary functions" require poison centers to offer additional services beyond their core toxicology work, generating revenue through government or industry contracts.
As the country grapples with a rising tide of preventable poisonings, with over 100,000 deaths reported in 2023 alone, it is imperative that we prioritize funding for these critical centers. With potentially unreliable and unvetted information online, poison centers staffed by trained professionals are a vital lifeline in crisis.
If you want to find your local poison center and support them, click here to learn more about the network's mission, its data system, which is the only near-real-time public health surveillance system of its kind in the US, and how you can help ensure that this vital resource remains accessible to everyone.
These poison centers are literally lifesavers, but they're always struggling 
. I mean, $3.1 billion saved each year is a big deal 
, but it's crazy that federal funding hasn't kept up with inflation in over 10 years 
. They're basically doing triple duty - toxicology, emergency prep, and research - and still manage to save us billions 
. We need to get our act together and support these centers ASAP 
. I'm all for government contracts and Medicaid funding, but come on, let's prioritize 
.
And these centers are like superheroes, savin' lives left and right 
Can you imagine not havin' access to that kind of expertise and info? It gives me chills just thinkin' about it 
. They're literally lifesavers, handling over 3.3 million encounters each year, but we don't always think about the impact they have on our health and wellbeing 
. It's crazy to think that a $1.2 million operating cost can be stretched as far as it is with federal funding 
. I'm definitely going to look into my local center and see how I can help out 
i mean think about it they're always on call 24/7 ready to deal with a toxic emergency that could be deadly if not handled properly. its crazy to me that despite all the good they do we need to keep reminding people of their existence and advocating for more funding 
! I mean think about it we got these 53 centers across the country staffed by meds pros trained in toxicology & they save us like $3.1 BILLION every year 
. What I find weird tho is that these centers are struggling to get funding cuz budget cuts r killing them 
. We need to support our poison centers ASAP 'cause preventable poisonings r killin' 100k ppl in 2023 & it's all about unreliable info online 
. they r literally lifesavers, but i guess ur average person dont think about them til they need 1 
. but funding is still a big issue... gotta prioritize them ASAP 
. Like, think about it - they deal with over 3 million encounters every year! That's a lot of people to help and save 
. I mean, what's the point of having all that info online if you can't trust it? It's like, who knows what's true and what's not? 
. We gotta give them the support they need! 
It's not like we can just Google "poison control" and expect an expert answer 
. These centers are the real deal, providing top-notch care and lifesaving guidance, but they're always on shaky ground financially 
!
. We need to make sure we prioritize funding for these centers ASAP 
), but also because they're literally a matter of life and death 
). it's crazy how they're still struggling to get enough funding though... like, federal funding hasn't increased in decades 
I'm so concerned about the lack of funding for poison centers - it's like we're not taking a holistic approach to addressing preventable poisonings. These centers are doing so much more than just toxicology work, they're also providing valuable research and telehealth delivery services 
. We need to prioritize funding for poison centers ASAP 
. Let's make sure these centers get the funding they need! 
These centers are like our unsung heroes, always there for us when we need them, and now it's time we step up and support them 
.
. Anyone else with me on this? Let's get behind these unsung heroes 
It's crazy that they're not more recognized for this tech-savvy stuff.