MEDICATION SAFETY

Medication & Pain Management Policy

Draft for formal adoption/legal review.

Accurate medication information

Patients are expected to provide complete and accurate medication, medical, and substance-use histories and to report material changes in their condition, medications, pharmacies, and treating clinicians.

Monitoring

When clinically appropriate or required, medication management may include prescription-monitoring-program review, pharmacy verification, toxicology or drug screening, medication counts, records review, diagnostic testing, follow-up visits, or other safety measures.

Controlled and high-risk medications

If a controlled or high-risk medication is prescribed, patients are responsible for safe storage and safeguarding against loss, theft, misuse, diversion, or unauthorized access. Early refills are not guaranteed. Lost or stolen medication may not be replaced. A designated pharmacy may be required unless otherwise authorized.

Refills and treatment changes

Routine refill requests should be made through the practice's approved process during regular business operations. Controlled medications are not routinely refilled after hours, on weekends, or holidays. Noncompliance with clinically appropriate monitoring or unsafe medication use may result in treatment modification, discontinuation of a medication, referral, or transition of care consistent with applicable standards.