Question

Kathy is responsible for orienting a new medical assistant to the practice. Summarize the important points about government regulation of controlled substance prescriptions that she should include in the orientation.

a) Controlled substances are categorized into schedules based on their potential for abuse.
b) Prescriptions for Schedule II drugs cannot be refilled, and a new prescription is required for each fill.
c) Prescribers must use special prescription forms for controlled substances, and these prescriptions have specific security features.
d) Strict record-keeping and documentation are required for the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances.

Answer 1

Kathy must cover crucial topics such as controlled substances' scheduling, special forms and security features for prescriptions, and the importance of strict record-keeping and documentation for controlled substance prescriptions during orientation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kathy should inform the new medical assistant about critical points regarding government regulation of controlled substance prescriptions. First, it is crucial to understand that controlled substances are categorized into schedules based on their potential for abuse, with Schedule I being the most restricted. Secondly, prescriptions for Schedule II drugs cannot be refilled, necessitating a new prescription for each fill. Thirdly, prescribers must use special prescription forms with specified security features for controlled substances to prevent forgery and misuse. Lastly, strict record-keeping is imperative, as meticulous documentation is required for the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances to prevent and track any mismanagement or diversion.