Maine HIE users gain access to prescription monitoring program

Participants in Maine’s health information exchange (HIE), HealthInfoNet, now can access the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP).

HealthInfoNet worked with the state throughout 2013 to link the two systems, which gives clinicians a single sign on to the state PMP while logged into the HIE portal. Use of the PMP can help reduce drug misuse, the illegal sale of drugs and prevent overdose injuries and deaths, according to a press release.

The Maine PMP, which is free to all healthcare providers and pharmacists, is operated by the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. It maintains a database of all prescriptions filled for controlled substances, like narcotics, tranquilizers and stimulants within the state.

HealthInfoNet CEO Dev Culver said that HIE users have asked for this service for several years. “One of the goals of HealthInfoNet is to eliminate the time spent gathering a patient’s medical information. This includes eliminating the number of separate systems needed to gather information it from. We believe this will increase usage of both the PMP and the HIE in Maine,” he said in a statement.

Access more information on the HIE here.