Michigan prescribers get new drug monitoring system

By Chris Ehrmann
Associated Press

LANSING (AP) - Prescribers now have an updated system to search for patient records and help prevent drug addiction.

Appriss Health's system went live this month. It replaced the Michigan Automatic Prescription System that prescribers had used since 2003. The Legislature last year allocated $4.5 million to begin replacing the old system and provide routine maintenance. President of Appriss Health Rob Cohen said the project began in last October and went live on April 4. Some of the new features include faster record response times, less than five minutes. Before it would take anywhere from five to ten minutes to get data for users.

"When our practitioners are querying for a report, patient report, they get it back within seconds versus the five to ten, fifteen minutes that it would take in the past with the old system," Kim Gaedeke, director of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Professional Licensing, said.

Some of the other features it will have include a dashboard for patient alerts, recent request history, real-time data uploading and online tutorials for first time users.

In a news release, Lt Gov. Brian Calley thanked Kroger for including the system in 105 Michigan pharmacies across the state.

Calley also said that while he considers the overhaul of the prescription system to be the centerpiece of fighting addiction, it cannot work on its own. Legislation has also been introduced to accompany the new system to combat addiction.

Published: Thu, Apr 13, 2017