Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
Industry Challenge
Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem that wastes taxpayer money and endangers the population. A case in point―when the Florida Medical Examiners Commission examined autopsy reports from 2007, they found that “the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drug use.”
The Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program was designed to enhance the capacity of regulatory and law enforcement agencies to collect and analyze controlled substance prescription data. To be eligible for grant funds, states must have in place an enabling statute or regulation "that requires submission of controlled substance prescription data to a centralized database administered by an authorized state agency." States need a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) that allows them to rapidly and efficiently collect prescription data from dispensers throughout the state and analyze this data to detect abuse.
Solution
HID’s RxSentry® PDMP is the solution. RxSentry is a Web-based program that facilitates the collection, analysis, and reporting of information on the prescribing, dispensing, and use of prescription drugs. RxSentry leads the industry in flexibility, functionality, and ease of use. We simplify the logistical challenges of collecting pharmacy data by allowing pharmacies to submit files in virtually any format. Our clinical pharmacists, who are experienced in every aspect of pharmacy administration and operation, lead system implementation and training activities. Our Web-based RxSentry PDMP application analyzes pharmacy data and delivers concise and informative reports for administrators, practitioners, dispensers, and law enforcement officials. Users can review statistics in a variety of tabular and graphical formats. One of the most popular features of the reporting interface allows users to view dispensing and usage patterns on a map, zoom in and zoom out to see smaller or larger areas, and access more detail by clicking on icons that represent dispensers, practitioners, and recipients.
Features
- Customized Data Submission. Dispensers may choose from many data submission methods, allowing for virtually effortless submission. RxSentry’s methods for data submission include Secure FTP over SSH, PGP Encrypted Files sent via simple FTP, upload via SSL Web site, and physical media (tape, diskette, CD, DVD).
- Portal Design. RxSentry is remotely administered by HID using secure communications. The Web portal design provides browser-based access and allows state agencies to set up and maintain user credentials for secured areas of the site.
- Extensive Reporting Capability. RxSentry allows extensive searching, counting and custom reporting capabilities including management reports. RxSentry’s flexible reporting design allows the administrator to generate standard statistical reports, ad hoc reports, charts, and maps. All report types may be easily customized to fit the user’s specific needs.
- Timely Information Access. RxSentry provides authorized users with forms, letters, and reports within a timeframe designated by the governing agency.
- Security Levels. RxSentry offers flexibility in access by offering both group-level and individual access and privileges as designated by the governing agency.
- Search Protection. RxSentry's secure Web interface allows authorized users to request a repository search. The governing agency has the ability to confirm receipt of request and send electronic results to the authorized user. Select authorized users may access the information as needed, provided the request coincides with the user credentials established by the governing agency.
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Audit Trail. RxSentry tracks program usage through a global audit trail. This feature allows the governing state agency to monitor user access to information.
Benefits
Our clients have discovered RxSentry’s power in preventing the diversion, abuse, and misuse of controlled substance prescription medication. Industry studies reinforce this. In September 2006, in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Simeone Associates released An Evaluation of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, which documents the following benefits:
- Reduced abuse of prescription drugs. According to the study, PDMPs reduce the supply and abuse of prescription drugs. (This finding was especially true for states that monitored proactively, identifying cases for investigation.)
- Reduced supply of prescription drugs. The evaluation found that PDMP states had notably lower rates of supply of prescription drugs compared with states that did not have PDMPs.
- Reduced rates of abuse. The study showed that rates of abuse in states that had proactive PDMPs would have been, by 2003, 10 percent higher for pain relievers and 4 percent higher for stimulants had the programs not been in place.
For more information on how RxSentry can help your organization, contact us.