First steps forward in electronic ordering of controlled substances
software program that allows firms to order all Schedule I & II
controlled substance purchases on a single electronic form -
potentially saving up to 90 per cent on ordering costs.
The US company recently completed its first electronic transaction for a controlled substance, using the nuBridges e222 controlled substance ordering system (CSOS).
nuBridges' e222 CSOS application, first allowed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2005, is one of the industry's first to be certified according to strict DEA requirements and Purdue and its wholesale customers, Value Drug and H. D. Smith, have since all now had the programme installed.
"This is a pivotal moment for Purdue and for controlled substance pharmaceutical manufacturing as a whole," said Michael Celentano, associate director of Supply Chain Systems for Purdue.
"With nuBridges e222 solution, we can reap the benefits of electronic CSOS compliance, knowing that our processes are secure, scalable and efficient."
The e222 programme can manage all of the order and customer verification steps necessary in the electronic workflow, while adhering to the strict security requirements that the DEA has set for CSOS - requiring that the chain of custody must be verified and documented at every step in the transaction process.
Electronic ordering has become popular among pharma manufacturers as a way to streamline processes and slash costs, as well as tightening supply chain accountability.
A study by the DEA found that significant efficiency gains with electronic processing can slash costs from $60 (€47) to as little as $6 for each order - a saving of 90 per cent.
However, an electronic ordering method that caters to the special needs of controlled substances has been lacking.
Prior to the expansion of CSOS to include electronic processing, buyers were severely constrained by a 10 line-item limit for each paper-based order, so that orders in excess of 10 lines required the processing of multiple forms.
"Now, with e222, companies can order all Schedule I & II controlled substances purchases on a single electronic form," said nuBridges.
"Partners can now meet critical supply needs, optimise ordering across the network and improve inventory management."
According to the firm, the e222 software is designed to provide the highest levels of integrity at every step in the process, boasting features such as message encryption to ensure that only authorised recipients can access content; digital signatures to assure identity; audit trails to account for all stock received, distributed or disposed of; as well as a scalable and secure communications engine.
