Poison control in North Carolina.

Poison centers contribute importantly to public health. They provide expert emergency advice without charge, offer early telephone triage of poisoning cases, assist parents and caretakers in managing simple exposures at home, and recommended hospital evaluation for patients suspected of serious exposure. Their efforts lead to significant cost savings by averting unnecessary medical evaluations. Poison centers offer physicians and other clinicians consultation with board-certified medical toxicologists to arrange for definitive care or, more often, to help provide good, cost-effective care in local communities. The Poison Center's efforts to prevent accidental poisoning and to increase awareness and utilization of its services benefit both patients and health care providers by reducing morbidity and costs associated with poisonings.