The association added that “consolidat- ing the Texas Poison Control Network centers into a single entity would have far more negative consequences than positive outcomes” and “would mean losing the toxicology knowledge and ex- pertise ‘multiplier effect.’” Another compelling argument against consolidation: The centers could lose accreditation, which would eliminate crucial unmatched federal funding from HRSA. Dr. Stanley says the centers rely on the money to provide assurance of quality medical oversight. AAPCC accredits poison control cen- ters nationally and recommends that each center serve 5 million but no more than 10 million people. Texas is home to about 25 million people. If the state has only one poison control center, AAPCC would have grounds to consider de-accreditation of the entity. “Loss of AAPCC accreditation would be disastrous for Texas’ poison control system. It would be more difficult for the state to attract board-certified medical toxicologists to the centers and would place the centers’ federal funding in jeopardy,” Dr. Stanley said. Medical institutions host Texas’ six poison control centers and make signifi- cant in-kind contributions. CSEC pro- vided an example of the added value host institutions lend to poison control centers in its 2011 Report on the Texas Poison Control Network in response to the Sunset Advisory Commission (www
.csec.texas.gov/images/Poison_Docs/poi son_sunset_rpt_feb_2011.pdf). “Without the North Texas Poison Cen-
ter, Parkland Hospital and UT South- western Medical School could likely not maintain their Medical Toxicology Fel- lowship training program. This would be a tremendous loss to the State of Texas, as certified medical toxicologists are in short supply nationally and in Texas and are the only specialists who can as- sure rapid and proper management of a broad variety of human poisonings, venom exposure, and other toxic expo- sures,” the agency wrote. The CSEC sun- set report estimates the host institutions provide about $1.4 million worth of in- kind unreimbursed funds to the centers statewide.
September 2012 TEXAS MEDICINE 31
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