Using an electronic database, a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) can help providers identify misuse of prescription drugs, especially those with an increased risk of addiction or overdose. While using a PDMP is not always required, it is highly encouraged as it can help clinicians prescribe and manage medications more responsibly to protect a patient's health and well-being.
What is a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)?
Each state offers a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), an electronic database where physicians and other authorized users can voluntarily track information about a patient's prescription medication use. The database often includes a list of medications a patient has been prescribed, how often it was refilled, and the prescribed dosage.
Physicians use PDMPs to identify when a patient is obtaining a high-risk prescription drug (such as opioids) from multiple providers. The PDMP can also calculate the total MME per day the patient has been prescribed.
A PDMP database can help identify and warn against the prescription of certain medications that may increase the risk of overdose or addiction, such as the combination of opioids and benzodiazepines. With that in mind, checking and updating the PDMP can ensure physicians are informed and acting in a patient's best interest.
How To Use a PDMP
Using a PDMP is highly encouraged for any healthcare provider that intends to prescribe medications or believes that a patient may be missing or addicted to a medication. In this case, information in the PDMP may reveal a history of misuse or simply help a physician know when a patient needs to taper down a dose or switch medications.
What's most important when using the PDMP is that physicians do not dismiss patients for misuse but instead walk them through their treatment options. Educating patients about the misuse and the risks of overdose, along with naloxone and other out-patient solutions that may help, is the best way to protect a patient's well-being.
How TempDev Can Help You Implement a PDMP
TempDev’s team of experienced consultants, developers, and trainers are here to support enhanced accessibility, as well as customized features and templates. This enables you and your patients to have more control over data with improved transparency.
As part of our streamlining process, we help you implement the Patient Portal, API, and other tools to better support safety, patient engagement, and security. From dashboards to automation and workflow redesign, TempDev offers the comprehensive resources and tools you need to implement and be compliant with Prescription Drug Monitoring Program requirements.
Contact us here or by calling us at 888.TEMP.DEV to optimize your PDMP experience.
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