For professionals

Each year, 15 percent of all calls to Wisconsin Poison Center come from health care providers across the state. At any time, the Poison Center's medical toxicologists, David Gummin, MD, and Mark Kostic, MD, are available to consult by telephone with Wisconsin providers who have questions regarding the management of poisoned or potentially poisoned patients. Bedside consultation also is provided at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital.

Drs. Gummin and Kostic are board certified in Medical Toxicology and Emergency Medicine. They also are faculty members of The Medical College of Wisconsin and practice and teach in both specialties.

By working with the Poison Center, Wisconsin providers reduce hospital stays by as many as three days, saving patients an average of 19 percent in hospital charges. This works out to an approximate savings of $13.60 in inpatient hospital charges for every dollar spent on Poison Center operations.