RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to summarize and assess economic evaluations of poison centers (PCs) from the perspectives of society, the payer, and the healthcare system. METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify complete economic evaluations regardless of the language or publication status. Two reviewers evaluated the abstracts for eligibility, extracted the data, and assessed the study quality using a standardized tool. RESULTS: In total, 422 non-duplicated studies were retrieved, but only nine met the eligibility criteria. Five of the eligible studies were published in the 1990s, and four were published in the 2000s. Six studies met at least seven of ten quality criteria. In all studies, the presence of PCs was compared with a scenario of their absence. Eight studies used cost-benefit analyses and one used a cost-effectiveness approach. The cost-benefit ratios ranged from 0.76 to 7.67, which indicates that each United States dollar (USD) spent on poison centers can save almost 8 USD on medical spending. A cost-effectiveness analysis showed that each successful outcome achieved by a PC avoids a minimum of 12,000 USD to 56,000 USD in other healthcare spending. CONCLUSIONS: The data in our review show that PCs are economically viable. PCs improve the efficiency of healthcare expenditure and contribute to the sustainability of the healthcare system. An investment in PCs is a rational public health policy approach that contrasts the current trend of reducing spending on PCs.
Asunto(s)
Centros de Control de Intoxicaciones/economía , Intoxicación/economía , Brasil/epidemiología , Análisis Costo-Beneficio , Humanos , Centros de Control de Intoxicaciones/estadística & datos numéricos , Intoxicación/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Poison information center funding is a continuous problem and is growing more critical as cost containment effects the health care industry. Although a limited number of poison centers are partially funded by governmental agencies, general poison center operational support is derived from a variety of sources, and there is significant pressure upon centers to identify alternative funding sources. Affiliated members of our member hospital treatment network have provided one revenue source, but not all hospitals within our service region have subscribed. Furthermore, hospitals outside of our service region have utilized the service without any financial responsibility despite recommendations to use their local center. Therefore, to provide an incentive for local hospitals to subscribe to the service and to dissuade hospitals from outside of the region from using the service, we implemented a toxicology consultative fee for service on all calls emanating from non-member hospitals. In just 19 mo, recruitment of 16 new member hospitals has generated $65,150 additional revenue. Non-member hospitals electing not to affiliate but to remunerate for toxicology consultations (226 cases) have generated $20,400 (98% collection rate). A startling 95% reduction in calls from hospital outside of region has resulted since this fiduciary initiative began. New revenue totaling $85,550 has been generated by establishment of a toxicology consultation fee, and our staff is now able to dedicate priceless time and resources to the poison information needs of the residents of our region.
Asunto(s)
Honorarios y Precios , Centros de Control de Intoxicaciones/economía , Derivación y Consulta/economía , HumanosRESUMEN
El presente documento tiene como propósito establecer un Centro de Control e Información de Intoxicaciones para brindar información integral e implementar acciones de promoción, prevención, concientización y asistencia de intoxicaciones a la población