Press release

Digital triage tool webPOISONCONTROL^® launches comprehensive upgrade to help more people with poison exposures

National Capital Poison Center’s first-of-its-kind app developed by EPAM makes it easy to find recommendations for poison emergencies

NEWTOWN, PA – September 20, 2017 – EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE:EPAM), a leading global provider of digital platform engineering and software development services, and the National Capital Poison Center (NCPC) today announced the release of an extensive upgrade of the webPOISONCONTROL online tool and app. It is the first online, automated triage tool and app for poison emergencies. The new upgrade provides help for individuals with poison exposures involving pharmaceuticals, supplements, household products and plants, whether swallowed, splashed on the eye or skin, or inhaled, and even helps if symptoms are already present.

According to the National Poison Data System, in 2015, 85% of poison exposures reported to US poison centers were nontoxic, minimally toxic or had, at most, a minor effect. Numerous studies have demonstrated that minimally toxic poison exposures drive up healthcare costs due to unnecessary emergency room visits. A 2012 Lewin Group report shows that the return on investment from the poison center system is $13.39 per dollar spent, saving $1.8 billion per year in unnecessary medical costs and lost productivity. webPOISONCONTROL increases cost savings by appealing to people who otherwise wouldn’t call a poison center.

"Every day, nearly 6,000 people call U.S. poison centers and another 4,000 to 9,000 struggle with a poison exposure but don’t call," says Toby Litovitz, MD, medical toxicologist and director of the project. "They don't call for a variety of reasons. Some people don't like talking on the phone or getting stuck in phone queues, and many are embarrassed, suspect they will be judged, don't have phone access or don't want to scare their children. Too many people just guess - resulting in needless ER visits for those who don't need to see a doctor, and dire outcomes for those who stay home when they should have sought medical care."

When using webPOISONCONTROL, a user can enter the name of the substance, pill imprint code, or scan the product barcode, and add the amount swallowed, age, weight and symptoms in approximately three minutes. Users then receive a specific recommendation that it's safe to stay at home, go to the ER or call a poison center for further guidance. If a user receives the recommendation to stay home, the tool tells the user what to do and then provides information about specific symptoms that are likely to occur and are not of concern, as well as symptoms that should trigger a call to a poison center or an ER visit. The tool also provides a pill identifier for quick recognition.

"To make the tool effective, the National Capital Poison Center needed a technology partner that could consolidate and integrate an immense amount of data, and deliver it to the user in a simple, easy-to-use application. Using our big data, software engineering and UX expertise, we developed a solution built on 3,300 complex algorithms that accurately analyzes 52,000 products and 207,000 barcodes," said Kevin Labick, Co-Head, Digital Engagement, EPAM. "We are very proud to work with NCPC to improve poisoning outcomes across the country."

To date, more than 60,000 people have safely used webPOISONCONTROL for online poison exposure help. Recommendations are free, confidential and prepared by clinical toxicology experts. webPOISONCONTROL is sponsored by the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C. It is funded by donations, including a generous grant from the Potomac Health Foundation. Learn more about webPOISONCONTROL, view NCPC's infographic, read the case study, explore the tool, or download it on the App Store or on Google Play.

About NCPC

This section was updated Jan 2026

The National Capital Poison Center, founded in 1980, is an independent, private, nonprofit organization. It operates the nation's first fully-automated, all-digital online Poison Control, leveraging its webPOISONCONTROL^® tool, to provide expert guidance for poison exposures throughout the US, for those who prefer to get help online rather than by phone.

The mission of National Capital Poison Center is to prevent poisonings, save lives, and limit injury from poisoning by providing free, expert, online guidance, 24/7. Immediate access to triage and treatment guidance for poison exposures optimizes poisoning outcomes and decreases health care costs.

Learn more about the National Capital Poison Center here.

Learn more about webPOISONCONTROL here.

About EPAM Systems

Since 1993, EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM) has leveraged its core engineering expertise to become a leading global product development and digital platform engineering services company. Through its ‘Engineering DNA’ and innovative strategy, consulting, and design capabilities, EPAM works in collaboration with its customers to deliver innovative solutions that turn complex business challenges into real business opportunities. EPAM’s global teams serve customers in over 25 countries across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. EPAM is a recognized market leader among independent research agencies and was ranked #12 in FORBES 25 Fastest Growing Public Tech Companies, as a top information technology services company on FORTUNE’S 100 Fastest-Growing Companies, and as a top UK Digital Design & Build Agency. Learn more at https://www.epam.com/ and follow us on Twitter @EPAMSYSTEMS and LinkedIn.

Forward-looking statements

This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. EPAM undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.

###