While prescription drug monitoring programs are being introduced as a way to track and cut down on opioid abuse, there is an opportunity to expand the use of these programs to all medications, helping with medication reconciliation efforts.
In an article in American Journal of Managed Care, two physicians call to use PDMPs in this way, to collect and report all medications individuals have been prescribed, not just opioids. Providers and prescribers can then check this database to see a full history of medication prescriptions, which may inform their treatment decisions.
Medication reconciliation remains a problem in clinical settings, argue the authors. They cite a 2015 study of emergency departments that found just fewer than 22 percent of patient medication lists were accurate.
The authors propose a statewide medication reconciliation program that would leverage PDMP technologies and databases. A SMRP, they write, would be a single source used by all prescribers in the state displaying current and past medications and where patients received those medications.
"Learning what medications a patient has been prescribed and is actually taking is an inefficient, difficult and absolutely vital task, and our patients bear the consequences of inaccuracies. Nevertheless, despite the barriers, we believe the dangers and limitations of the current system make establishing an SMRP not only desirable, but necessary," the authors conclude.
More articles on PDMPs:
Drug monitoring programs show reduction in opioid overdoses: 6 things to know
Maine's prescription drug monitoring program faces low adoption
Lack of interoperability could derail opioid Rx monitoring efforts, says advocacy group