Spectrum Health to Close Poison Control Center

Spectrum Health will close its regional poison control call center on June 30, 2009 as a result of the 2010 state budget eliminating funds that subsidized its program.

It is Spectrum Health’s understanding that the state will support only one poison control center at Children’s Hospital of Michigan at the Detroit Medical Center. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a member of Spectrum Health, has operated the regional poison control call center for western and northern Michigan since 1975.

Last year Spectrum Health subsidized approximately $800,000 of the poison center’s $1.4 million operating budget. The state of Michigan provided $250,000 in funding. Additional support was provided by grants. Since 2002, Spectrum Health has provided more than $4.5 million to operate the poison control center.

The state of Michigan’s 2010 proposed budget removes the $250,000 allocation for the poison control center in West Michigan.

The underfunding of this service increases the financial burden on Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Spectrum Health can no longer ask its patients and payers to sustain a service that is an obligation of the state.

“This is a difficult decision. We acknowledge the significant financial challenges in the fiscal year 2010 Michigan budget and the state’s interest in consolidating poison control center services. We will do everything we can to make this a smooth transition,” said Matt Van Vranken, executive vice president, Spectrum Health and president, Spectrum Health Hospital Group.

Spectrum Health is assisting the poison control staff members whose positions will be eliminated as a result of this closing to identify other opportunities within Spectrum Health. We will continue the toxicology service to area hospitals provided by three emergency department physicians who were part of the poison control center.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of seven hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, a multispecialty team of nearly 100 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 500,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 14,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care to those in medical need.’ The organization provided $111.1 million in community benefit during its 2008 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards during the past 10 years.