Panel of Experts Discuss Technology’s Role in Fighting the Opiate Abuse Epidemic

Lexington, Mass.—April 13. 2015—A recent forum sponsored by Imprivata® (NYSE: IMPR), the healthcare IT security company, and hosted by the Massachusetts Health Data Consortium focused on two technology-based strategies—Prescription Monitoring Programs (PMPs) and Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS)—to help address the national opiate abuse epidemic.     

The panelists, who spoke to a full room of thought leaders from healthcare, government, academia and industry, included:

  • Karen M Ryle, MS, RPh, Associate Chief of Pharmacy, Ambulatory Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Chair, NABP.
  • Paul L. Uhrig, EVP, Chief Administrative & Legal Officer, Surescripts, a national health information network company that certifies and connects pharmacy and prescriber applications for EPCS. 
  • Michael A. Lee MD, MBA, Director, Clinical Informatics, Atrius Health
  • David Ting, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Imprivata

The forum was moderated by Sean Kelly, MD, an emergency room physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Chief Medical Officer of Imprivata.  

The discussion centered on the methods and pathways states are using to implement PMPs and EPCS with panelists agreeing it is no longer a matter of if technology-based prescribing should be used to prevent opiate abuse, but how it can be deployed in a way that doesn’t interrupt patient care or the work flow of clinicians.

Opiate abuse is a public health crisis, now killing more Americans each year than automobile accidents. Technology can be an important tool in addressing abuse by curtailing the diversion of prescription drugs, keeping paper prescriptions and doctors’ credentials out of the hands of dealers and people suffering from substance abuse.

A detailed recap of the forum is available at: http://www.imprivata.com/blog/how-use-technology-battle-opiate-epidemic

About Imprivata

Imprivata (NYSE: IMPR), the healthcare IT security company, is a leading provider of authentication and access management solutions for the healthcare industry. Imprivata delivers single sign-on, authentication management and secure communications solutions to enable fast, secure and more efficient access to healthcare information technology systems to address multiple security challenges and improve provider productivity for better focus on the patient experience. For more information, please visit www.imprivata.com.

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