Accessing PDMP data outside of the EHR can be a time-intensive process for clinicians.
MetroHealth in Ohio describes this process as taking several minutes and requiring the clinician to navigate to several different pages and type as many as 60 characters. Such practice leads to low adoption of checking the PDMP despite a legal requirement to do so, and significant physician unhappiness with the process. Fortunately, there is often a better way to integrate PDMP data into the workflow within the EHR. When MetroHealth turned this functionality on, they reported the improved workflows took one click and just a few seconds.
The state of Wisconsin manages their PDMP database autonomously as opposed to partnering with a third-party company to do so. Wisconsin allows EHRs to connect directly to their PDMP through their own web portal. Wisconsin’s PDMP, like PDMPs of most other states, supports interstate sharing. This means that providers accessing the PMDP in Wisconsin can see PDMP data from neighboring states too. This approach of direct connection to the PDMP is also used in California.
Maryland took a different approach with their PDMP. The Maryland PDMP was established and is maintained by their state HIE named CRISP. EHRs will connect to CRISP to access PDMP data. Maryland’s PDPM supports interstate sharing as well. This approach of incorporating the state HIE is also used in Nebraska and Washington, among others.