E-Rx tool for controlled substances launches, integrates with EHRs

Imprivata has launched a new product to enable a major shift from paper to electronic prescribing of controlled substances.

In order to combat the prescription drug abuse epidemic in the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) passed a rule in 2010 allowing controlled substances to be electronically prescribed. Electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) is expected to provide a number of benefits including increased provider productivity and patient satisfaction by enabling one electronic workflow for all prescriptions. EPCS is also expected to reduce the risk of physician DEA number theft and prescription fraud and abuse.

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Imprivata Confirm ID is the first comprehensive product that simplifies the adoption of DEA requirements for EPCS while helping providers address workflow inefficiencies and potential fraud caused by paper-based prescriptions. The product also integrates directly into the e-prescribing workflows of leading electronic health records (EHRs) to help provide a single, consistent e-prescribing experience for all medications.

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“The volume of prescriptions for controlled substances, which are primarily paper-based, continues to rise, creating clinical workflow inefficiencies, decreasing patient satisfaction, and increasing the risk of drug diversion and fraud. At the same time, prescription drug addiction and abuse is a growing public health epidemic,” said Omar Hussain, president and CEO of Imprivata. “The industry is looking for technologies that address this inefficiency and potential for fraud while enhancing patient care."

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Imprivata Confirm ID offers provider identity-proofing, supervised enrollment of providers’ approved credentials, support for multiple DEA-approved 2-factor authentication modalities for prescription signing, and comprehensive auditing and reporting tools. Imprivata Confirm ID supports fingerprint biometric identification and one-time-password tokens, giving providers the option to use the 2-factor authentication modalities that best fit their prescribing workflows. This new product enables a comprehensive, integrated workflow for secure EPCS that is ultimately expected to improve provider productivity and increase patient satisfaction.

Erin Bastick is a PharmD Candidate 2016, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio, and an inpatient intern at University Hospitals, Cleveland.