In the United States,<unk> s (PMPs) or<unk>  drug monitoring<unk> s (PDMPs) are state-run<unk> s which collect and distribute data about the<unk>  and dispensation of federally controlled substances and, depending on state requirements, other potentially abusable<unk>  drugs. PMPs are meant to help prevent adverse drug-related events such as opioid overdoses, drug diversion, and substance abuse by decreasing the amount and/or frequency of opioid prescribing, and by identifying those patients who are obtaining<unk> s from multiple providers (i.e., "doctor shopping") or those physicians overprescribing opioids. Most US health care workers support the idea of PMPs, which intend to assist physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists and other prescribers, the pharmacists, chemists and support staff of dispensing establishments. The database, whose use is required by State law, typically requires prescribers and pharmacies dispensing controlled substances to register with their respective state PMPs and (for pharmacies and providers who dispense from their offices) to report the dispensation of such<unk> s to an electronic online database. The majority of PMPs are authorized to notify law enforcement agencies or licensing boards or physicians when a prescriber, or patients receiving<unk> s, exceed thesholds established by the state or<unk>  recipient exceeds thresholds established by the State. All states have implemented PDMPs, although evidence for the effectiveness of these<unk> s is mixed. While<unk>  of opioids has decreased with PMP use, overdose deaths in many states have actually increased, with those states sharing data with neighboring jurisdictions or requiring reporting of more drugs experiencing highest increases in deaths. This may be because those declined opioid<unk> s turn to street drugs, whose potency and contaminants carry greater overdose risk.
Prescription monitoring program
Demographic surveillance system
Bar code medication administration
Casualty notification
Continuity of Care Record
Admission, discharge, and transfer system
Electronic prescribing
Monitoring in clinical trials