smoking cessation tulsa
The industry of health care has undergone many changes over the past year, and a trend that is becoming popular concern is that prescription pharmaceuticals. Normally, doctors write a prescription and pharmacists dispense medication. However, recent legislation in Florida allows pharmacists to prescribe independently from an approved list.
The industry is embracing the concept of pharmacist prescribing in the belief that lower costs of health care and free time for other medical issues.
There is also the aspect of convenience. Many people now turn to the mega retail chains one stop place where they can get food, get your oil change, they cut their hair, and pick up your prescription. The idea of adding one more item to "to do" list, such as obtaining treatment for an earache or a cold, is a tempting option for our convenience-centered society.
When an earache is not just an earache
Many common diseases can also be symptoms of a problem larger, more insidious, and while pharmacists may be able to prescribe certain medicines, are not able to diagnose, and certainly not with the knowledge, experience and training that a physician has. With "health care retail," there will be someone to follow up on unresolved problems? Are they going to organize laboratory tests or diagnostic imaging? Or simply just hand the patient a prescription and send them in the hallway?
Is this true health of patients?
This scenario may offer patients the convenience, but not offered medical attention right? Too unanswered questions, and pharmacists do not have the same primary medical training of doctors do. The best way for patients to receive care true health and comfort would be the doctor of medicine dispensing.
Instead of having to obtain a doctor's prescription and the pharmacy unit to have it filled, the patient may have your prescription at the point of care. The patient is already there, so why the unit elsewhere? Not only is desirable, but in many cases, the physician dispensing is less expensive for patients. In addition, patients have the comfort of knowing that even if there health problems are unresolved, they can return to your physician so they went.
Physician dispensing is also beneficial for physicians too. When physicians dispense medications at the point of care, which reduce time to fielding pharmacy callbacks, which can cost one clinical average of $ 30,000 per year. Furthermore, it adds an extra source of income through the sale of prescriptions.
Prescribers and pharmacists dispensing
The once distinct roles of the pharmacist and physician are becoming blurred as more and more states grant autonomy to more doctors and pharmacists and discover the benefits of physician dispensing. Although prescription pharmaceuticals offer a little comfort, do not have training and knowledge of the physician for follow up care. When it comes to this, doctors are more likely to dispensation of those who will be able to provide better patient care, both in terms of convenience and cost.
Physicians should take the time to learn about the dispensing of prescription medicines. Point of care delivery is an option for nearly any clinician, and provides an answer competitive threats posed by the attention to detail-based. Do yourself a favor and make 2008 the year that provide the focal points of dispensing.
About the Author:
Warren Moseley is president of Physicians Total Care, a Tulsa-based business whose software, the PTC9000, has helped numerous clinics and practices start physician dispensing. Visit them online at http://www.physicianstotalcare.com to get a free analysis of how physician dispensing could work at your practice.
