The opioid crisis has grown from an unmanageable, but ignorable, issue to a national pandemic. Trending maps show national images that are reminiscent of metastatic cancer. There are dozens of reasons for its development and continued growth: the “fifth vital sign”, poorly or even illegally managed pain clinics, the Persian Gulf Wars. While it is important to understand why it happened, determining effective strategies to mitigate it and eventually end it matter much more. Health IT solutions, such as real-time data capture from EHRs to monitor patient outcomes, interoperable Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, registries, and many more can help. These are the solutions of the future.

With the support of leaders from across the front lines of the government, the nation is rapidly turning these solutions into realities. The panelists invited to this event will examine the opportunities these technologies present, the strategies that will encourage their implementation and success, and the challenges and unintended consequences that might prevent or slow their ultimate use.

They will answer:

• How is the government implementing programs that support recent legislation, such as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 and the unnamed opioid legislation awaiting the president’s signature?
• Is the government going to federalize the PDMPs for interoperability among themselves and with EHRs?
• Are opioids the only addiction problem of interest? What is the U.S. doing to address other problems?
• What other technologies are on the horizon?

Panelists:

• Marc Wine, Senior Adviser at the Department of Veterans Affairs (Confirmed)
• Matt Quinn, Senior Adviser, Health Technology at Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) (Confirmed)
• Margeaux Akazawa, Public Health Analyst, Office of National Coordinator (ONC), for Health IT (Confirmed)
• Jim Craver, Office of the Chief Technology Officer at the Department of Health and Human Services (Confirmed)
• Cecilia Spitznas, Senior Science Policy Advisor, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President (Confirmed)

Moderator:

• Darryl W. Roberts, PhD, MS, RN, FHIMSS, Principal Evaluation Scientist LMI, Programs Liaison HIMSS NCA; Adjunct Professor American University