Information is power, and technology-enabled solutions support easier access to critical patient histories about opioids that can enable providers to improve outcomes and save lives.

How did we get here?
In 2001, the Joint Commission rolled out pain management standards that included pain as the “fifth vital sign” in hospitals, and physicians were encouraged to order pain medications, including opioids, to keep patients as comfortable as possible—with an ultimate goal of “zero pain.” Then this liberal use of opioids spilled into ambulatory care, for everything from back pain to root canals to recovery from C-sections. At that time, there was also a widely cited article that suggested that addiction from short-term opioid use was rare. (citation: Porter J, Jick H. Addiction rare in patients treated with narcotics. N Engl J Med. 1980;302:123.)

Addiction to opioids occurs more rapidly and more readily than was once known, creating a perfect storm. When opioids are prescribed unnecessarily or treatment continues longer than needed, addiction issues can emerge quickly. Even worse, when patients with addiction issues can’t get prescription opioids, some may even turn to illegal street drugs such as heroin—which is increasingly laced with the dangerous agent fentanyl.

The challenge of PDMP mandates
While PDMP mandates make sense, many prescribers don’t comply with them. And, while the states with mandates do require verification once the provider checks the data, very few if any of these same states are addressing a lack of compliance in a structured manner.

Some physicians believe that PDMPs are unnecessary because they trust their own judgment. Others feel they don’t have the time to check online PDMP registries. This is understandable when doing the database checks in a traditional manner. In the absence of a specific technology solution integrated directly into the workflow, verifying whether a patient is taking opioids requires doctors to go to a stand-alone PDMP website, log on, and enter patient demographic information. In states that require such checks, doctors also must document that they looked up the data. Altogether, this process can take 3 to 5 minutes per patient. If a doctor prescribes opioids or other controlled substances several times a day, that adds half an hour of daily work.

We must make it as easy as possible for clinicians to check PDMP data so that workflows aren’t adversely impacted for already time-pressed doctors. We also need more studies on the incidence and impact of PDMP-checking. The evidence needs to support the effort.

E-prescribing workflow tool
Many states outside New York already allow doctors to access PDMP data within e-prescribing tools such as DrFirst’s iPrescribe mobile application and its desktop versions, which are imbedded in EHRs. In those states, prescribers gain easy, fast access to this information in their e-prescribing workflow. With just a couple of clicks, they can check the PDMP data and prescribe the appropriate drug. In the background, the software automatically documents the fact that the doctor checked the registry.

When a physician discovers that a patient may be at risk of opioid addiction or may already be addicted, she can start a conversation with that patient. If the patient acknowledges that he may need help, the doctor can use DrFirst’s integrated HIPPA-compliance Backline application to securely message another clinician, a home health provider, or a social worker who can intervene.

Unfortunately, streamlined access to the New York I-STOP database has not yet been approved. As more studies are conducted which demonstrate a nexus between PDMP checking and patient outcomes, we hope that states like New York will take steps to authorize the automatic provision of PDMP data while in workflow to a prescriber.

If the evidence supports the use of PDMP databases, more prescribers will be encouraged to adopt and embrace this powerful tool—especially when they have an easy and efficient way to integrate it into their workflow.

A reduction in opioid prescribing alone will not end the opioid epidemic. The huge influx of illegal street drugs also must be addressed, and addicts must have easier access to treatment. But I’m convinced that, if all of us work together, the healthcare community can decisively reverse the trend of opioid addiction to improve outcomes and alleviate suffering.

Click here to learn more about iPrescribe and download the app!