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 recently combined poison prevention and professional education programs into one statewide program. The System continues to explore ways to enhance toxicology services to the state of Minnesota while meeting the challenges of today's health care environment. 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's data for 1998.
Additional information is available upon request.
The majority of expenses are for personnel, being just under 85 percent. 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 funding roughly two-thirds of the System's costs. On the Brink of Extinction, documented the cost effectiveness of poison centers. Additional studies have shown similar savings.