A Panel Management Approach Using Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Data for Primary Care Patients with Chronic Pain Treated with Opioids: A Feasibility Study

Abstract Background This feasibility study explored a process for primary care clinicians to improve chronic pain management related to opioid prescribing practices by using state-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data to create panel management reports on patients receiving long term opioid therapy. Methods Conducted across four rural primary care clinics in Northern New England, the study assessed the feasibility of downloading and utilizing PDMP data and the perceived value of panel management reports derived from both PDMP and electronic health record (EHR) data in the care of patients with chronic pain treated with opioids for more than one year. Results The study found that downloading PDMP data was feasible and efficient across all sites. However, EHR review proved more challenging due to inconsistencies in data entry and the unstructured nature of some relevant data fields. Clinicians generally found PDMP data easy to generate and the panel management reports informative and useful for understanding opioid prescribing trends and identifying high-risk patients. Conclusions The findings suggest that while PDMPs are a potential source for panel management reports for patients with chronic pain who are treated with opioids, further study is needed to determine the effectiveness of such efforts to improve care for and safety of patients treated with opioids.