Several notable trends from 2017 will continue to impact the health information technology (HIT) industry in the new year. Ransomware tops the list, particularly after this May’s WannaCry worldwide cyberattack, followed closely by increased awareness of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) as an “upstream solution” to battling the nation’s mounting opioid abuse crisis. Beyond the ongoing development of these two leading trends, HIT experts are also asking two key questions as
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EPCS
Intermountain Sets Goal to Reduce Opioid Prescribing by 40% Using EHRs
Utah-based Intermountain Healthcare has pledged to reduce by 40 percent the average amount of opioids prescribed per acute pain prescription at its 22 hospitals and 180 clinics by the end of 2018. To accomplish this 40 percent reduction, Intermountain will add prompts and default order sets into its electronic health records (EHRs) to help reduce the number of tablets prescribed. Intermountain has already provided training to about 2,500 caregivers within its system, with plans to expand
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Why The Opioid Epidemic Makes EHRs Essential To Public Health
When public health is threatened by an outbreak of SARS or Zika or avian influenza, widely disseminated information becomes a crucial tool used to curtail the spread of disease.But transmittable diseases are not the lone threats to public health. Other metaphorically pathogenic events—the current opioid epidemic, for example—are more effectively managed by making sure doctors have complete information when evaluating patients and, especially, writing prescriptions.Even if you know what the
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Deaconess Health Integrates Prescription Drug Monitoring Program With EHR
Deaconess Health System, network consisting of six hospitals in southwest Indiana has signed an agreement with Appriss Health to enable integration of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) directly into EHRs. The integration via Appriss Health’s PMP Gateway managed service solution enables access to data, analytics, tools and resources from PDMPs within care team workflows in real-time, at the point-of-care, at every patient encounter, to improve patient safety and outcomes. The EHR
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NeHII Taps DrFirst to Aggregate Statewide Prescription Records
NebraskaHealth Information Initiative (NeHII) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has selected DrFirst to capture state prescription information and deliver it to Nebraska’s enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) which began January 1, 2017. Unlike some state PDMPs, the focus in Nebraska is primarily around patient safety and outcomes. The inclusion of complete prescription data in the PDMP database enhances patient safety and helps combat the abuse of opioids
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drchrono Launches First Native iOS EHR App Certified for EPCS
drchrono Inc., an EHR, practice management, revenue cycle management and medical API platform on iPad, iPhone and web, announced that its EHR app is now certified for Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) on iPad, iPhone and web.EPCS within the drchrono EHR app now allows physicians to write and transmit electronic prescriptions for controlled substances to pharmacies, and for pharmacies to easily receive and dispense these prescriptions to patients.The U.S. Drug Enforcement
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Cerner, CoverMyMeds Integrate to Accelerate Electronic Prior Authorization Process
Cerner and CoverMyMeds are announcing this morning an agreement to integrate CoverMyMeds’ ePA within Cerner’s Millennium EHR. The advanced functionality will provide more than 350,000 e-prescribing end-users the ability to accelerate the prescription review process by removing manual processes and helping to reduce transaction costs. CoverMyMeds will provide Cerner physicians the capability to process requests electronically in seconds and receive notification of a patient’s authorization status
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Practice Fusion Releases Free EPCS to Ensure I-STOP Compliance for NY Providers
Practice Fusion, a cloud-based EHR for doctors and patients , today announced that it is now certified for the electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS). With this certification, Practice Fusion can help ensure that its New York State physicians are able to comply with the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act (I-STOP) requirement for EPCS. Easily accessible from a mobile tablet or device, providers’ can quickly and securely transmit controlled substance prescriptions,
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NY Gov Cuomo Approves EPCS Delay to March 2016
On Friday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that would postpone the deadline for doctors in the state of New York to use only electronic prescriptions to March 27, 2016 . According to lawmakers, many physicians still lack the required federal approval for their computer systems to perform electronic prescriptions for controlled substances (EPCS) intended to prevent prescription fraud, Washington Times report.
“This is a victory for patient safety,” said Dr. Andrew Kleinman,
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Imprivata Partners with Symantec for Comprehensive Fingerprint Biometric & Token Solution for EPCS
Imprivata today announced a partnership with Symantec to provide a comprehensive fingerprint biometric and FICAM-certified Credential Service Provider (CSP) solution for electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS). Symantec Norton Secure Login, acting as the CSP, and Symantec Validation and ID Protection Services (VIP) seamlessly integrate with Imprivata Confirm ID™ to simplify the process of identity-proofing and credentialing prescribers to comply with DEA requirements for EPCS.
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