CHIME Opioid Task Force Playbook released, underscores importance of EPCS in fighting the opioid epidemic

As a member of the CHIME Opioid Task Force, Imprivata proudly welcomed the recent publication of its much-anticipated Playbook designed to help senior healthcare IT executives, providers, and others better utilize information technology in the ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic.

The playbook is divided into eight chapters, and offers best practices and real-world examples that illustrate how healthcare IT can be used to reduce unnecessary opioid prescriptions that are a leading cause of opioid addiction and deaths in the U.S.

The playbook devotes one chapter entirely to a technology solution that helps to address opioid abuse: electronic prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS).

Over the past few years, EPCS has steadily gained momentum on both legislative and corporate fronts because it is an effective and immediate solution to the opioid crisis. EPCS helps fight opioid abuse by decreasing the risk of fraud, drug diversion, forgery, and DEA-number theft associated with paper prescriptions.

EPCS provides healthcare organizations with an online system that enforces transparency, accountability, and security to protect against fraud and abuse. This helps to break the cycle of addiction. Additionally, while EPCS can dramatically reduce “pill mills” and other factors that contribute intentionally (and unintentionally) to the epidemic, it actually makes it easier for providers to safely prescribe (and for patients to get) the medicines patients legitimately need to treat their pain and other conditions.

The CHIME Opioid Task Force Playbook is freely available to anyone looking for strategies to combat the opioid crisis by clicking here.

To learn more about Imprivata Confirm ID for EPCS, our fast, secure signing solution for EPCS, please click here.