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A man leaning on the table while holding his head in pain.

Can a Concierge Doctor Prescribe and Dispense Pain Medication?

A man leaning on the table while holding his head in pain.

Traditionally, the only way for people to receive medical attention was by going to a hospital, urgent care clinic, or another medical facility. Now, however, it’s possible to receive medical attention, ongoing care, medications, and more from the comfort of your home, thanks to concierge medicine. 

Because of how convenient and comprehensive concierge medicine is, it’s quickly becoming the preferred method of seeking medical attention. A concierge doctor can do nearly everything that a doctor at a clinic can do, from diagnostic testing to treatment and medication administration. The main exception to the powers of a concierge doctor is that they don’t have immediate access to all the medical equipment as that of a hospital. 

You’ve come to the right place if you’re curious and want to know more about concierge medicine. This article will delve into what concierge doctor is, what they do, and some of their limitations. We’ll also look at whether or not concierge doctors have the power to prescribe and dispense pain medication.

How Concierge Doctors are Involved in Prescribing Pain Medication

In general, concierge doctors can do everything that a doctor at a medical center can do. They don’t have any legal restrictions on what they can do, and no federal or state laws limit their abilities. As such, concierge doctors can prescribe, administer, and dispense pain medication to their patients.

Before a concierge doctor prescribes and dispenses pain medication, however, they will have to perform a check-up and diagnose you with something that warrants pain medication. Prescribing pain medication without a proper diagnosis can be dangerous and isn’t something your concierge doctor will do.

Additionally, your concierge doctor should also explain the potential side effects of pain medication before giving it to you. These side effects include the following:

  • Risk of addiction
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Internal bleeding
  • Drowsiness
  • Mind fog
  • Slowed or difficulty breathing

Once you understand the risks and receive a diagnosis, your concierge doctor can prescribe, dispense, and administer pain medication.

What are the Benefits of a Concierge Doctor that can Give You Pain Medication?

The main reason that concierge doctors are becoming so popular is because of how convenient they are. They negate the need to go to a busy hospital or clinic and waste hours of your time waiting in line. Here are some of the other benefits of using a concierge doctor for your medical needs.

  • Concierge medicine is cheaper than most people realize and isn’t only for wealthy people.
  • Concierge medicine gives you 24/7 access to licensed medical professionals from the comfort of your home.
  • Because you’ll be dealing with the same doctor and medical team all the time, it’s easy to form a relationship with your medical providers.
  • Concierge doctors come to you according to your schedule.
  • Concierge doctors can prescribe all the pain medications that any other doctor can, including morphine, oxycodone, and other opioids.

While the benefits of concierge medicine are plentiful, there are a few potential negatives to be aware of.

In most cases, however, the benefits of concierge medicine far outweigh the cons.

Dispensing Pain Medication as a Concierge Doctor

A Smiling Doctor in White Lab Coat with Stethoscope on Her Neck prescribing pain medication.When it comes to dispensing pain medication, the same rules that apply to doctors in hospitals and medical centers also apply to concierge doctors. While they’re fully licensed and allowed to prescribe and dispense pain medication, there are certain things your concierge doctor will have to do first.

  1. Perform a complete physical and get your personal health history.
  2. Diagnose you with a condition that requires the dispensing of pain medication.
  3. Write a complete prescription for your pain medication and document why you need it.

Concierge doctors follow these steps because of the increased scrutiny that doctors fall under when prescribing pain medications. They could face serious consequences1 and legal sanctions for the inappropriate prescription of pain medication and could even lose their medical license.

If your doctor determines you need pain medication, here are the types of meds a concierge doctor can prescribe.

  • Nerve pain medication
  • Norco pain medication
  • Joint pain medication
  • Chest pain medication
  • Back pain medication
  • Medication for stomach pain
  • Chronic pain medication
  • Opioids
  • Many more

Essentially, your concierge doctor can prescribe any type of pain medication that other doctors can. They can handle everything from the physical and diagnosis to the prescription and dispensing of pain medication in the comfort of your home. This is advantageous if you can’t or don’t want to leave your home and is just as effective as getting your prescription elsewhere.

Conclusion

As you can see, concierge doctors have just as much power to prescribe and dispense pain medication as a doctor working in other capacities. As long as your concierge doctor has their medical license, there are no restrictions to what they can do. However, it’s essential to choose a concierge doctor that’s knowledgeable and trustworthy so that they don’t inappropriately prescribe you pain medication. This could lead to drug addiction or medical complications.

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References

[1] Dineen KK, DuBois JM. BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: CAN PHYSICIANS PRESCRIBE OPIOIDS TO TREAT PAIN ADEQUATELY WHILE AVOIDING LEGAL SANCTION? Am J Law Med. 2016;42(1):7-52. doi: 10.1177/0098858816644712



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