ONC pilot projects prove that health IT can improve clinician’s access to important clinical resources like Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), which are data sources, doctors and other providers can use to help fight the prescription drug abuse epidemic.
The centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the prescription drug abuse epidemic is growing. CDC estimates 15,000 people pass away each year from overdoses involving prescription pain killers. In addition to the deaths costs associated with the prescription drug abuse epidemic have also shot up in the recent years
The ONC pilot project had proven practically at Wishard-Eskenazi Health, a community health system in Indianapolis, integrating Health IT and PDMP’s improved patient care and fight the prescription drug abuse epidemic. PDMP’s are one of the most promising resources available to help clinicians identify, intervene, and curb prescription drug abuse. When available at the point of care PDMP information can help clinicians distinguish between patients who legitimately need Opioid medications for pain treatment and those who may be seeking to misuse these powerful drugs.