Various types of medical professionals can prescribe medication, depending on their education, training, and scope of practice. Physicians and surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and psychiatrists are just some of the healthcare professionals who can prescribe medication.
Not all healthcare professionals have the authority to prescribe medication. However, the ones who do can benefit from implementing an in-office dispensing system at their practice. In-office dispensing is the practice of stocking medication at a medical practice to provide to patients during their visit instead of sending them to a pharmacy.
What Types of Medical Professionals Can Dispense Medications In-Office?
Any healthcare professional who prescribes medication can benefit from the convenience of in-office medication dispensing. Although we often think of getting prescriptions from our general practice doctors, a wide range of nurses and physicians have the authority to write prescriptions.
Medical Doctor—Medical doctors, including physicians and surgeons, can all prescribe medication. Cardiologists, oncologists, pediatricians, obstetricians, and more can all benefit from dispensing medication to patients at the point-of-care. Physicians and surgeons are medical doctors who have completed a degree in medicine and obtained a license to practice. All of these types of doctors are authorized to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for various health conditions. Depending on their specialty, physicians and surgeons can prescribe different types of medication, ranging from painkillers to anti-depressants. They can also prescribe drugs that require close monitoring, such as chemotherapy drugs.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine—Just like medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine are licensed doctors who treat patients and prescribe medication. While osteopaths focus on a hands-on approach with their patients, they also prescribe a wide range of medication. Osteopaths will appreciate the one-on-one benefits of being able to dispense medication during their visits with patients.
Podiatrist—Doctors of podiatric medicine are another type of medical doctor who can prescribe medication. A podiatrist is a physician and surgeon who treats the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. Being able to dispense medication in-office can be especially beneficial to podiatrists because their patients often have limited mobility.
Nurse Practitioner—Nurse practitioners (NPs) have extensive training in patient care, health promotion, and disease prevention. They can diagnose and treat patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe medication in most states. NPs work independently or in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to patients. NPs can prescribe medication for a wide range of health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. NPs can also prescribe controlled substances, such as opioids, under certain conditions.
Physician Assistant—Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. PAs can also prescribe medication under the supervision of a physician. Depending on their state’s regulations, PAs may have limitations on their prescribing authority, such as prescribing controlled substances.
Psychiatrist—Psychiatrists are medical doctors who focus on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders. They have completed a residency in psychiatry after obtaining a medical degree. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication for various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Dispensing medication in-office can help psychiatrists save their patients the stress and anxiety of visiting the pharmacy.
Certified Nurse Midwife—Midwives are an often overlooked group of prescribers. Certified nurse midwives are licensed to prescribe medications related to their field of work. Some medications that midwives prescribe include: treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, hormone replacement therapy , and pain relief medications. Midwives often focus on reducing the amount of medical interventions during birth, but still prescribe medications as needed.
Dentist—Dentists may prescribe medications to help patients achieve comfort and the best medical outcomes. A dentist can only prescribe prescriptions that are related to dental treatment such as painkillers, anti-inflammatories, dry mouth medications, and antiseptics. Using an in-office dispensing program, dentists can dispense prepackaged medication directly to their patients after treatment to help them achieve a quick recovery.
License Needed to Begin In-Office Dispensing
Although each of these professionals is already licensed to prescribe medicine, they may need an additional license to dispense medication. Most states allow in-office dispensing with a simple registration process. Some states require special licensing and charge fees. Some states also restrict direct dispensing by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other non-physician healthcare professionals.
Getting in contact with an experienced health services company is the best way to obtain details on state dispensing laws. These experts can help any physician or healthcare professional walk through the process of beginning an in-office dispensing program. Physicians who prefer a more direct approach can contact their state’s board of pharmacy for more details.