Does use of poison control centers reduce the number of hospitalizations in rural areas? The study, “The Potential Impact of Poison Control Centers on Rural Hospitalization Rates for Poisoning,” found a direct correlation between the use of poison control centers (PCCs) and reduced rates of hospitalization.
The authors estimated that if the observed correlation is a result of a cause-effect relationship, 43 PCC calls would prevent one hospital admission, yielding a net medical savings of more than $7,300. In recent years, funding for PCCs has been reduced. But the authors say their study shows that funding for PCCs can provide substantial health care cost savings in rural communities while reducing the amount of time lost at work, increasing quality-of-life and improving overall outcomes.