About Us
What you need to know about the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program
The raison d’être of the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program is rooted in its legislated mandate which is to promote:
• the appropriate use of monitored drugs; and
• the reduction of the abuse or misuse of monitored drugs.
The Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Board, which is responsible for operating the Prescription Monitoring Program, interprets this legislative mandate as including a mission to:
• educate prescribers, dispensers and the general public on the appropriate use of monitored drugs;
• collaborate and develop working partnerships with other key organizations in order to achieve the Program’s objectives; and
• proactively share information in a timely and responsive manner to allow others to do their part in achieving the Program’s objectives.
The core values and beliefs that guide the board in how the Program is operated are:
• Accountability – Our Program will be easy to access and to understand; we will be open and transparent in our reporting to the Minister and our stakeholders; we will be accountable to the public for the decisions that we make.
• Continuous Quality Improvement – We will constantly strive for excellence and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to innovation, evaluation and developing a Program that is responsive to the needs of Nova Scotians.
• Results-Focused Leadership – With thoughtful planning and clear outcomes in mind, our Program will demonstrate decisive, proactive and collaborative leadership in relation to our mandate.
• Trust – We will foster trust in our organization by doing what we say we will do, being respectful of others and safeguarding the security of the data gathered and used by the Program.
The Prescription Monitoring Act & Regulations provides the legislative framework to support the operations of the NSPMP. Some of the services we provide include the following:
• Patient Profiles - Prescribers, pharmacists and law enforcement can access detailed information regarding a patient's use of monitored drugs.
• Methadone Program Monitoring - The Program can assist Methadone clinics in monitoring patients to ensure no other monitored drugs are being obtained during their treatment.
• Patient/Prescriber Agreements - In situations where a prescriber deems a patient agreement to be appropriate, the NSPMP will monitor a patient's profile to ensure adherence to the patient agreement.
• Prescriber Peer Comparison Reports - This report is available to prescribers on request. It provides a graphical representation of their individual prescribing pattern in relation to their peers in their District Health Authority as well as on a provincial basis.
• Data Sharing for Research - The Program acts as a resource to researchers by providing statistical information and aggregate data on monitored drug use.
• Medical Consultant - Our consultant is an independent physician with expertise in prescribing opioids. Dr. Peter MacDougall, an anesthetist and a pain management specialist, is available as a resource to health care professionals, the Program and the Program's committees.
