Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

I think this would be a very good idea for the prescription writer. I would move up to the latest version if it had it. (Of course, it would have to be a preference as some users wouldn't want it.)

The CDC's 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline recommends clinicians check their state PDMP when initiating opioid or controlled substance therapy, and then at least every three months (90 days) for continued opioid therapy—and ideally before each new controlled substance prescription.

Some states like Maine under (Title 22 M.R.S. § 7253), prescribers are required to check the state’s PDMP: On the initial prescription of any opioid or benzodiazepine. And every 90 days for as long as the prescription is being renewed.

It is awesome that the place to check it off is right there on the prescription writer to click off. AND when you do check, it puts a note in the chart under Plan that it was done.

For most smart people (unlike myself), that should be enough. You are prescribing a controlled substance, you should check it off.

THE PROBLEM IS I FORGET TO CHECK IT ALL THE TIME.

So, my idea: The prescription writer already can check the script and not allow you to send it if certain things are missing, i.e., the amount. Or if you try to write for the same ADHD script, it will have a popup giving you the Do Not Fill Before such and such a date. And, the best example if you write for a non-controlled medicine -- say amoxicillin -- it couldn't care less if you fill in the Days Supply. But it won't allow you to write a controlled script if you leave that blank. So, it already has the ability to detect when you are writing for a controlled substance and to add certain things before you send it.

So, my actual idea would be for the Amazing Charts prescription writer to give a popup "Check the Prescription Drug Monitoring" before prescribing a controlled substance.This would force you to check that.

Now, you say what is so hard about remembering to check the PDMP? Well, I get emails from the state reminding me that I am violating the law. One of these days, it will really catch up with me. I have no idea the penalty: Fine? Not allowing to write controlled substances?

NOW THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE A PREFERENCE BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE USERS THAT WOULD BE ANNOYED WITH THAT HURDLE.

I just think if the prescription writer already has the ability to check if something has been left undone on certain prescriptions, then let it check that important item.

I would like to say that the prescription writer is very important and seems to always need tweaks and improvements.I would like to say that the prescription writer is much improved between version 11 and version 12. It's hard for the developers to keep up because a) they don't use it every day and b) It can be complex and probably has a lot of users write scripts it in a different way.

There is still room for many improvements. As always, those of us who have done this before, are happy to go on a 30-minute Zoom meeting to demonstrate some of the issues and improvements that could be done. Going through the nuances of the script writer with the prescription writer actually up on the developer's screen makes it much more effective than just writing them here.