New Prescription Tool Has Launched Statewide| 01:08PM / Wednesday, October 19, 2016 | |
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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Great Barrington/Fairview Hospital Task Force on Opioid Abuse hosted two education programs for physicians and medical professionals to introduce them to the new MassPAT (Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool), which was launched by the state in August and becomes mandatory for every prescription or refill for any narcotic schedule II or III drug as of Oct. 15.
The trainings took place at Fairview Hospital and East Mountain Medical Center on Oct. 13, hosted by the task force, a collaboration between Great Barrington, Fairview Hospital and other community organizations that has formed to address opioid abuse and deaths in southern Berkshire County,
The purpose of the training was to increase familiarity with the recently launched MassPAT tool that replaces the old Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), which was cumbersome and not user friendly. The new system is easier to use, includes the ability to eventually search records in other states, as well as provides more information to help providers make the proper decisions for patient care.
"There is a lot of science showing a decrease in deaths because the physicians now have information on patient history at their fingertips," said presenter Lynn Ferro, project coordinator from the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, in reference to a study that showed patients with one or more risk factors (four or more prescribers, four or more pharmacies, or dosages greater than 100 MME a day) accounted for 55 percent of overdose deaths.
Ferro was joined by Tammy Lewis, an experienced trainer and a Controlled Substance Refill Program Coordinator from Valley Medical Group in Florence, Mass., who provided attendees with a tutorial to use the tool.
The program not only provided and the information on how to use the tool but also offered medical professionals and staff the opportunity to discuss their questions and concerns including insurance coverage, issues surrounding Narcan, surrounding state policies and opportunities to improve efficiencies.
"This new program is helpful because it gives us a tool to protect the patient's safety," said local physician Dr. Susan Thompson, who attended the event.
Jayne Smith, health agent for the town of Great Barrington, coordinated the event.
"This is one of the first live trainings western Massachusetts offered to help local medical communities learn how to use this important tool," she said. The task force was originally formed to apply for a grant to help first responders carry Narcan but when they met they quickly realized people at table were decision makers and had the ability to address issues on a broader level to support the medical community.
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