Narcotics Use Indicator System for Prescriber Workflow Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prescription drug abuse is a significant issue in the US, with existing Prescription Monitoring Programs (PMPs) underutilized by prescribers due to their cumbersome navigation and data retrieval processes, leading to low rates of access and usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes a prescription database to create a narcotics use indicator by analyzing patient prescription drug use data, transforming it into individual indicator values, and weighting them to produce a numerical score, enabling prescribers to quickly assess the likelihood of proper prescription use or potential abuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prescribers manually access the state PMP website to retrieve patient narcotic use information, then complete prescription monitoring data can be obtained, but the process becomes arduous and time-consuming, leading to low utilization rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores narcotic use indicator scores in a database before prescribers need them. Patient prescription data is continuously monitored and processed offline to generate readiness-to-use indicators, eliminating the need for prescribers to wait for data processing during patient visits
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring prescribers to access and interpret the full detailed PMP report, the system creates simplified copies in the form of pre-computed indicator scores that capture the essential risk assessment information in a single numerical value, making the data more accessible and actionable
2Loss of information
If the PMP system provides detailed prescription usage information in PDF format, then comprehensive monitoring data is available, but the navigation and data analysis process becomes complex and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the most critical information from detailed prescription data to create simplified indicator scores. Instead of presenting all raw prescription details, the system pulls out key patterns and synthesizes them into interpretable numerical indicators that highlight the most important risk factors
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms complex multi-dimensional prescription data into a simplified single-parameter indicator score that is easier to interpret. By changing the parameter representation from detailed text records to a consolidated numerical score with clear interpretation guidelines, the system improves usability while preserving essential information
3Reliability
If prescribers regularly review detailed prescription monitoring reports, then prescription drug abuse can be detected early, but the time and effort required reduces overall productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of reviewing detailed prescription reports with an automated computational system that calculates risk indicator scores. This substitution allows continuous monitoring and analysis without requiring prescriber time and effort, maintaining high detection accuracy while preserving workflow efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer program product for determining a narcotics use indicator to enable a physician, or other prescriber, to quickly review a numerical score that reflects a patient's past drug use and is indicative of proper, or improper, future drug use. This score analyzes many aspects of a patient's past activities to determine multiple individual indicator values that may be selectively weighted to create a final narcotics use indicator. Such individual indicator values may include a usage related indicator factoring in the patient's past drug use, particularly the type of narcotics and controlled substances used; an instruction related indicator that may consider the patient's past use of prescribers, quantity of prescriptions, or the number of open prescriptions from different prescribers; a dispensing related indicator that examines a patient's use of pharmacies, in filling prescriptions; or even an auxiliary indicator that may reflect the patient's number of active prescriptions.