A Milestone in Opioid Stewardship: Utah's Controlled Substances Dashboard

Our mission at PharmASSIST Healthcare Dashboards is to transform complex healthcare data into actionable insights that improve patient safety, support providers, improve efficiencies, and drive system-wide change. One of the continually pressing areas in healthcare today is the responsible prescribing of controlled substances. That's why we are excited to share the successful implementation of the PHD Opioid Stewardship Dashboard at the Utah State Controlled Substances Database (CSD).

This project represents an exciting step forward in the state's efforts to strengthen opioid stewardship and protect communities throughout Utah.

Why This Work Matters

The opioid epidemic has evolved over the past decade, but its impact remains deeply felt in communities nationwide. Public health leaders face the difficult balance of ensuring patients receive appropriate pain management while minimizing the risk of misuse, diversion, and overdose.

The key to achieving that balance lies in data transparency. By equipping public health teams with timely, accurate, and interactive insights, leaders can make evidence-based decisions that improve community health and patient safety.

Turning Data into Action

The new Utah Controlled Substances Dashboard provides real-time visibility into controlled substance prescribing across the state. Through an intuitive, interactive platform, the dashboard enables the CSD team to:

• Monitor prescribing trends statewide to understand evolving patterns

• Identify outliers and target education where it will have the greatest impact

• Support policy decisions with data, not assumptions

• Promote safer prescribing practices, protecting both patients and communities.

By transforming millions of lines of complex prescribing data into clear, actionable intelligence, Utah's CSD team can now navigate the controlled substances prescribing landscape with confidence and precision.

Collaboration at Its Best

This milestone was made possible through the dedication and vision of Connie Kitchens and her outstanding team at the Utah State CSD. Their expertise, leadership, and commitment to patient safety were critical in shaping the dashboard into a tool that is both powerful and practical.

Working together, we saw firsthand how technology and mission alignment can accelerate progress. When public health priorities meet the right analytics tools, you move from being data-rich to truly data-driven.

Looking Ahead

The Utah Controlled Substances Dashboard is more than just a successful technology project - it's a model for how states can leverage healthcare analytics to address critical public health challenges.

As the dashboard continues to evolve, we're excited to support the Utah CSD in expanding its use cases, refining metrics, and deepening its impact. The ultimate goal remains clear: to improve patient safety, support providers, and protect communities.

Closing Thoughts

This milestone is proof that the right partnerships, powered by the right data, can make lasting change. At PharmASSIST Healthcare Dashboards, we are honored to play a role in Utah's journey, and we look forward to supporting other states and health systems in turning complex data into actionable insight.

Because when technology meets mission, communities benefit.