@article{ref1,
title="Belgian Poison Centre impact on healthcare expenses of unintentional poisonings: a cost-benefit analysis",
journal="International journal of public health",
year="2019",
author="Descamps, Anne-Marie K. and De Paepe, Peter and Buylaert, Walter A. and Mostin, Martine A. and Vandijck, Dominique M.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the impact of the Belgian Poison Centre (BPC) on national healthcare expenses for calls from the public for unintentional poisonings. <br><br>METHODS: The probability of either calling the BPC, consulting a general practitioner (GP) or consulting an emergency department (ED) was examined in a telephone survey (February-March 2016). Callers were asked what they would have done in case of unavailability of the BPC. The proportion and cost for ED-ambulatory care, ED 24-h observation or hospitalisation were calculated from individual invoices. A cost-benefit analysis was performed. <br><br>RESULTS: Unintentional cases (n = 485) from 1045 calls to the BPC were included. After having called the BPC, 92.1% did not seek further medical help, 4.2% consulted a GP and 3.7% went to an ED. In the absence of the BPC, 13.8% would not have sought any further help, 49.3% would have consulted a GP and 36.9% would have gone to the hospital. The cost-benefit ratio of the availability of the BPC as versus its absence was estimated at 5.70. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Financial savings can be made if people first call the BPC for unintentional poisonings.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-8556",
doi="10.1007/s00038-019-01283-4",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01283-4"
}