CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — A new independent study by RAND shows that U.S. Poison Centers save $3.1 billion each year. Poison Centers around the nation are a critical, cost-saving healthcare resource for families, healthcare providers, and communities across the country. The West Virginia Poison Center plays a vital role in delivering these benefits locally.
The report released by America’s Poison Centers® found that for every $1 invested in Poison Center services communities receive $16.77 in benefits. These savings come from preventing unnecessary emergency room visits, reducing hospital admissions and length of stay, lowering mortality risk, and providing immediate access to expert toxicology guidance—often right from home.
Serving the entire state, the West Virginia Poison Center responds to calls involving medications, household products, chemicals, opioids, environmental exposures, bites and stings, and other toxic emergencies. Many of these cases can be safely managed at home with expert guidance—saving time, money, and stress for families while keeping emergency resources for true emergencies.
The RAND study highlights several key benefits that directly impact West Virginia:
· Reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations
· Shorter hospital stays and improved patient outcomes
· Real-time public health surveillance to detect emerging threats
· Support for healthcare providers, especially in rural and underserved areas
· Prevention education that helps keep families safe before emergencies occur
In addition to economic savings, the report emphasizes these benefits of Poison Centers: peace of mind, emergency preparedness, and response during disasters and public health crises.
Despite their proven value, Poison Centers nationwide—including West Virginia—have faced funding challenges. These funding challenges, combined with rising costs, threaten the ability of Poison Centers to maintain their essential services.
Increasingly, healthcare providers rely on Poison Centers for complex and severe cases, showing how important Poison Centers are to the healthcare system.
West Virginians can reach the medical experts at the West Virginia Poison Center 24/7 by calling 1-800-222-1222. Calls are free, confidential, and answered by medical experts specially trained in poison emergencies.
For more information or to download the full RAND report, visit PoisonHelp.org.
About the West Virginia Poison Center The West Virginia Poison Center provides emergency poison information, prevention services, and educational resources to West Virginians 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The center is staffed by specially trained nurses, pharmacists, and physicians. The WVPC is part of the West Virginia University–Charleston Division. Toll-free: 1-800-222-1222 Website: www.wvpoisoncenter.org
