CUSTOMER STORY:
How Inspira Health Turned EHR Data Into a Shield Against the Opioid Epidemic
Inspira Health Network, a hospital serving a rural community in southern New Jersey that has been deeply impacted by the opioid crisis, recognized the need for a more precise and timely approach to opioid stewardship. Although their electronic health record (EHR) contained the necessary patient and prescribing data, the system lacked the capability to extract or calculate critical measures such as morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) in a reliable, automated way. This limitation created barriers to identifying prescribing trends and intervening proactively.
“Two of the three counties we serve were ranked the lowest in New Jersey for health outcomes and the highest for opioid prescribing at the start of the grant,” shared Emily Loscalzo, PsyD, MAC, NCSE, Project Manager, Inspira Health.
To close this gap, Inspira partnered with Inovalon to create and implement an opioid stewardship dashboard, transforming static EHR data into near real-time, actionable insights that support safer prescribing and improved patient outcomes.
Building the Backbone of a Smarter Strategy
Inspira Health launched a comprehensive opioid stewardship program focused on identifying safer prescribing patterns across their healthcare system. But to succeed, they needed more than good intentions; they needed visibility.
That’s when the organization, after being awarded a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) added a new focus on reducing unnecessary opioid use in its emergency departments and increasing the use of alternative pain management strategies. To support this initiative, they augmented their EHR infrastructure with an advanced clinical surveillance solution. The team began pulling in near real-time data, automating MME calculations, and building dashboards that brought prescribing behaviors into sharp focus.
As Loscalzo put it, “For the purposes of our grant, it’s made it a lot easier to pull the data we need, week after week.” They were able to create a powerful lens for spotting outliers, identifying risks, and supporting informed decisions at every level – from the bedside to the boardroom.
Measurable Progress Toward Safer Prescribing
Within weeks, Inspira Health transformed a fragmented process into a sophisticated monitoring system with help from Inovalon.
- Weekly reports and raw data extracts gave clinical leaders a clear view into opioid prescribing trends across the ED, inpatient, and discharge settings.
- Configurable dashboards allowed teams to filter data by prescriber, facility, medication type, and even average MMEs – enabling precise comparisons and faster interventions.
- Advanced modeling tools uncovered patterns that were previously invisible, including polypharmacy risks, high-dose outliers, and missed opportunities for opioid alternatives.
Beyond tracking prescriptions, the initiative also integrated ancillary data: pain scores, benzodiazepine use, and substance use consultations, helping to create a more holistic picture of patient safety.
“We saw a 47.7% reduction in opioid prescriptions at discharge and a 19% drop in ED opioid administrations between 2023 and 2025,” said Jennifer Lihach, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist, Inspira Health
Turning Clinical Data Into a Strategic Asset
Inspira Health wasn’t just tracking opioid use – they were changing the way it was managed across emergency, inpatient, and discharge settings. By converting fragmented EHR data into near real-time insights, they gained the clarity needed to reduce opioid-related risks and support safer prescribing.
The transformation was powered by Inovalon’s VigiLanz Pharmacy Surveillance Pro™, a solution built to turn siloed clinical data into near real-time intelligence. The software seamlessly integrated with Inspira Heath’s EHR, calculating MMEs, triggering configurable rules-based alerts, and surfacing high-risk prescribing patterns.
The success of Inspira Health’s opioid stewardship program extended well beyond internal dashboards. The organization used data to build stronger relationships with law enforcement, local providers, and other community organizations to create a more coordinated response.
They also used the insights to educate medical residents, support grant reporting, and influence ongoing initiatives to expand behavioral health services and addiction medicine access across their campuses.
Ready to Transform Your Data Into Meaningful Impact?
Inspira Health Network didn’t just enhance visibility, they reshaped how care teams think, act, and prescribe. With the right tools, you can do the same.
Discover How VigiLanz Pharmacy Surveillance Pro Can Help You:
- Track and reduce high-risk prescribing
- Uncover near real-time insights from EHR data
- Simplify opioid stewardship and compliance
- Improve patient outcomes across the care continuum
