Atlanta, GA, July 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appriss Health , provider of the most comprehensive platform for substance use disorder (SUD) in the U.S., today announced it has entered into an agreement with The Southeast Permanente Medical Group (TSPMG), one of the largest multi-specialty medical groups in Georgia and an integral part of Kaiser Permanente, to enable the integration of the Georgia prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) information directly into its Epic electronic health record (EHR) system via Appriss Health’s PMP Gateway solution. PMP Gateway is a managed service that enables access to PDMP information, advanced analytics, resources and more within real-time care team workflows to help make more informed clinical decisions at the point-of-care. A set of prescribers will also have access to Appriss Health’s NarxCare SUD platform, an advanced patient support solution that aggregates and analyzes prescription drug information and presents visual, interactive information – such as risk assessment scores – to help care teams with clinical decision support. NarxCare also provides tools, including a MAT locator, and other important resources that support patients’ needs and connects them to treatment, if necessary. From 2010 to 2016, the total number of opioid-involved overdose deaths in Georgia increased by 117 percent, according to a recent report conducted by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Individuals between the ages of 25 to 34 also visited an emergency department (ED) or died from an opioid-involved overdose more frequently than individuals in other age categories. To combat this, Georgia passed new legislation mandating all prescribers check the state PDMP before prescribing opiates and other Schedule II substances beginning July 1, 2018 (Georgia House Bill 249). TSPMG’s integration of the PMP Gateway solution into all Epic EHRs will ensure TSPMG is compliant with this new mandate, helping clinicians access a patient’s prescription information immediately within the record. “By giving our providers point-of-care access to the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, we are connecting our prescribers with the most up to date information when, where and how they need really it; this real-time access in clinical workflow is critical in the prevention and treatment of addiction,” said Mary L. Wilson, M.D., President and Executive Medical Director of TSPMG. “We share the Georgia Department of Public Health’s commitment to protect patients at risk of abuse and connect them with the appropriate treatment resources in our community.” “The goal of the Georgia PDMP is to reduce the misuse of controlled substances and to promote proper use of medications used to treat pain, as well as to help diminish duplicative prescribing and overprescribing of controlled substances,” said J. Patrick O’Neal, M.D., Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Opioid addiction, misuse, and overdose from prescription medications are a public health crisis in Georgia and across the nation. Working together to make the PDMP easily accessible saves time for users, while giving them the ability to truly make a difference in this crisis.” PDMP information, analytics and more are now integrated into physician and pharmacist workflow through EHRs and pharmacy management systems in 35 states via Appriss Health’s PMP Gateway solution. With more than 30 million transactions now being completed per month on PMP Gateway, the solution is the industry standard for supporting efficient and secure real-time access to PDMP information and analytics directly within clinical workflow. PMP Gateway’s single point of connection helps states support PDMP integration best practices to include:

  • Secure and efficient access and technology for practitioners, pharmacists and other PDMP users
  • 24/7 technical support
  • Native integrations with all leading EHR and pharmacy management systems
  • Access to multi-state PDMP information within workflow
  • On-demand, detailed audit trail access
  • Self-service configuration for custom PDMP rules/regulations
  • Verification of user registration with PDMP
  • NarxCare substance use disorder platform

“TSPMG’s and the state of Georgia’s commitment to curbing the opioid epidemic is laudable,” said Rob Cohen, President, Appriss Health. “We are thrilled to further enhance their efforts by putting powerful prescription drug information, analytics, tools and resources directly in the hands of physicians. And, we rousingly applaud the efforts of the Georgia Department of Public Health administrators, and TSPMG’s clinicians, as we all work together to help address the opioid crisis’ impact on Georgia."

About The Southeast Permanente Medical Group

Founded in 1985, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group (TSPMG) is one of the largest multi-specialty medical groups in Georgia. More than 600 TSPMG clinicians work exclusively with Kaiser Permanente of Georgia to provide medical care to over 370,000 members in metropolitan Atlanta. In addition to primary care, TSPMG offers 38 specialty practices, including cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology and orthopedic surgery, in over 30 metro Atlanta facilities and associated hospitals. Their expert and caring medical teams are supported by industry-leading technology and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. For more information, visit www.tspmg.com .

About Appriss Health

Appriss Health provides the nation’s most comprehensive platform for early identification, prevention, and management of substance used disorder (SUD). We provide state government agencies with the most advanced repository of controlled substance dispensing information and deliver real-time clinical decision support, critical insights, and interventions to physicians, pharmacists, and care team members. Our solutions help prescribers and dispensers assess and manage clinical risk by providing access to critical information at the point of care for hundreds of millions of patient encounters each year. Appriss Health provides the platform for PDMPs and access to non-PDMP information, analytics, tools, and resources from PDMPs, across state lines, and integrated within care team workflows. Sharing #knowledgeforgood, our solutions are improving patient safety and outcomes. For more information, please visit www.apprisshealth.com .

David Griffin Appriss Health 502-815-3880 dgriffin@apprisshealth.com