Final answer:
a) Pharmacists with additional prescribing authorization
Only physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists with additional prescribing authorization can engage in managing ongoing therapy for patients. The authority to prescribe and manage medications varies by jurisdiction, and while pharmacists play a key role in dispensing and advising on medication use, they typically do not have prescriptive authority unless specifically authorized through additional training and certification.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of managing ongoing therapy, several healthcare professionals are authorized to engage in certain types of prescribing. These typically include physicians, nurse practitioners, and in some cases, pharmacists with additional prescribing authorization. It is important to note, however, that the scope of practice for these professionals can vary by jurisdiction. For example, in some regions, pharmacists who have completed specific additional training and certification may be granted the authority to manage ongoing therapy, which includes modifying prescriptions and dosing, under certain conditions.
Physicians traditionally have the broadest authority to prescribe and manage patient medications. Nurse practitioners often also have prescriptive authority, including the management of ongoing therapies, but this can be dependent on the state or country's laws. In contrast, the role of the typical licensed pharmacist, while crucial, generally involves dispensing medications, advising on their use, and providing information about drug interactions and side effects rather than prescribing, unless they have obtained additional qualifications where those are recognized and permitted.