The Minnesota Poison Control System has shared leadership for many reasons. With less than one-third of the System's funding being provided by state and federal money, the contributions of the parent organizations keep the system up and running. The two centers have combined poison prevention and professional education programs into one statewide program. The two centers that comprise the system, Hennepin Regional Poison Center and the Minnesota Regional Poison Center, have provided designated poison information services jointly since 1985. This report presents an overview of the System data for 1997.
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The majority of expenses are for personnel, being just under 83 percent in 1997. Other expenses of note are phone expenses, which provide toll-free access throughout the state, and computer and information database costs. Although expenses have increased, state and federal funding has remained the same since 1989. The two parent organizations, Hennepin County Medical Center and Regions Hospital, are now funding more than two-thirds of the Systems costs. Additional studies have shown similar savings.