Iowa Poison Control Center Adds Website Chat Feature

The center handled nearly 24,000 poisoning cases last year, saving Iowans millions in healthcare costs.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:50pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Iowa Poison Control Center has launched a new chat feature on its website, IowaPoison.org, allowing people to connect with experts via text or online messaging instead of making a phone call. The center, based in Sioux City, handled nearly 24,000 poisoning cases last year across all 99 Iowa counties.

Why it matters

The new chat feature provides an additional way for Iowans to access the poison control center's free, confidential, and 24/7 services. Without the center, 78% of callers say they would have gone directly to a hospital emergency room, costing the healthcare system millions.

The details

Iowa Poison Control Center spokeswoman Janna Day says the new chat feature on the center's website allows people to connect with experts through text or online messaging, in addition to the traditional phone hotline. The center handled nearly 24,000 poisoning cases last year, with calls coming from all 99 Iowa counties.

  • The Iowa Poison Control Center launched the new website chat feature in 2026.

The players

Janna Day

Spokeswoman for the Iowa Poison Control Center.

Iowa Poison Control Center

A 24/7 hotline that provides free, confidential expert assessment and follow-up care for poisoning cases, saving Iowans millions in healthcare costs annually.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Without access to the Iowa Poison Control Center, a study found 78% of callers say they would have gone directly to a hospital emergency room.”

— Janna Day, Spokeswoman

What’s next

The Iowa Poison Control Center plans to continue promoting the new website chat feature to encourage more Iowans to utilize the center's services.

The takeaway

The Iowa Poison Control Center's new chat feature provides an accessible and cost-effective way for Iowans to get expert help for poisoning cases, reducing the burden on the healthcare system.