“Doctor shopping” happens when patients visit different physicians to gain multiple prescriptions for the same period of illness. According to the journal Clinical Neuroscience, this behavior is common among patients who are hypochondriacs, or who are suffering from drug addiction.
Typically, doctor shoppers may present themselves as a new patient or a visiting patient from out of town with an exaggerated health issue. They may fake their disease or exhibit questionable behaviors to convince the health care personnel to prescribe or dispense a drug to them.
In-Office Drug Dispensing Requires Strict Adherence to the Laws
Physicians (specifically those dispensing controlled medications) need to adhere to certain safety and security standards enforced by agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration. They cannot have an in-office medication dispensing system if there is no proper registration and maintenance of records of the products and the patients. They are legally liable for their in-office drug dispensing system to keep on operating.
Physician Dispensing Laws vary per state. Those who are allowed to dispense controlled substances are also subjected to stricter regulations and procedures. Physicians are obligated to flag and report to the authorities any suspicious patient behavior in acquiring the medication.
In-Office Drug Dispensing Tracks Patients’ Drug Prescriptions
It’s convenient for many patients to have the drug they need readily available when they visit the clinic. It’s also easy for the doctors to track and follow-up on the patient’s recommended treatments because their data is recorded in the physician dispensing software.
With an in-office drug dispensing system, it’s easier for physicians to see which patients are not adhering to the treatment plan and, if necessary, to guide and advise these patients on the proper treatment or use of the drug. If a patient shows questionable drug use, then intervention can be done as soon as possible to prevent the problem from getting worse.
As a doctor, you may also limit the dispensing of the medications since most in-office drug dispensing systems are prepackaged based on how much the patient needs for the treatment. This prevents the patient from acquiring more doses than they realistically need, as opposed to the purchase of prescription medications and other treatments from stand-alone pharmacies, which is one of the reasons why medications are abused. In some cases, multiple medications are acquired so that patients may give them away or worse, profit from them.
Patients who have higher confidence in the judgment and medical skills of their doctors are less likely to hop from one physician’s clinic to another. Improving patient convenience via an onsite medication dispensary, providing proper counseling and resources to each patient that visits the clinic, and reinforcing the importance of proper medication adherence and the risks of over-medicating, are some measures physicians can implement to reduce doctor shopping.
Learn more about FCHS and the benefits of a drug dispensing system to your clinic
First Coast Health Solutions (FCHS) is a leading national provider of full-service in-office physician dispensing software. We are one of the best medication dispensing companies in the country. We dispense only FDA approved pre-packaged medications and provide doctors with a cutting-edge, but simple to follow, web-based dispensing system. Our priority is to promote the establishment of a medical environment that is fully compliant and delivers complete quality patient care.
Do you want to upgrade how your practice handles prescriptions? Look no further! Our in-office medication dispensing system comes with much more than you can expect!
To find out more about our programs, take a look at our website. Alternatively, contact us in the way that best suits you:
- Call us at 904-350-1155, or 904-350-1157
- Send us an email: info@firstcoasthealthsolutions.com
- Fill in our online contact form
- Drop us a visit: First Coast Health Solutions, 211 North Liberty Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, USA
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
