02/11/2026
Poison Centers are managing more complex and severe cases, requiring greater clinical time and resources. This trend aligns with an increasing proportion of cases coming from healthcare providers or institutions —and more result in serious medical outcomes. 📱👩⚕️ 1-800‑222‑1222 | 🌐 Live chat: www.njpoisoncenter.org
A new independent RAND study shows that U.S. Poison Centers save $3.1 billion every year in medical costs and lost productivity — and every $1 invested in poison center services delivers $16.77 in community benefits.
In NJ, handling more than 54,000 cases annually, New Jersey Poison Control at Rutgers provides fast, free, 24/7 guidance that keeps families safe, reduces unnecessary ER visits, shortens hospital stays, and improves health outcomes.
Beyond its core function of providing medical guidance to health care professionals and the public, the center supports statewide disaster preparedness and response, medication and household safety education, overdose prevention efforts, and real-time surveillance of emerging hazards. It also operates several specialized hotlines for the New Jersey Department of Health, including those for COVID-19, mpox, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections and after-hours communicable disease reporting.
“For New Jerseyans, our poison control center is more than a hotline – it’s a lifeline,” says Diane Calello, executive and medical director at the center, which operates as part of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Each call reflects our essential role in protecting residents and guiding them through evidence-based care.”
