What Is Physician Dispensing?
Physician in-office dispensing — also called on-site or point-of-care dispensing — is the fulfillment of a prescription at the point of care, by the prescribing practitioner or another employee of the practice, for the patient to take home. It is distinct from administering medication during a visit: a dispensed medication leaves the office with the patient, labeled and ready to use, just as it would from a pharmacy.
Practices dispense for two reasons. First, it is better for patients: they save a trip to the pharmacy, often pay less, and are more likely to actually begin treatment. Second, it is good for the practice: dispensing creates a new revenue stream, reduces pharmacy phone calls and faxes, and rounds out the services you offer. You can read more on our Provider Benefits and Patient Benefits pages.
Is Physician Dispensing Legal?
In most states in the U.S., physicians have the right under their medical license to diagnose, prescribe, and dispense legend drugs. The guidelines vary from state to state, however, regarding which practitioners are permitted to provide medications to patients, and under what circumstances. Some states require a dispensing permit or registration before you begin, and a few restrict the practice significantly. For details on your state, see our Dispensing Regulations page.
How the Dispensing Process Works
PharmaLink’s web-based dispensing software reduces each dispense to a few simple steps:
- Select the patient. Choose from your patient list, or enter the last name, first name, and date of birth for a new patient.
- Select the medication to be dispensed and the quantity.
- Verify the package. Scan the barcode, enter the lot number, or choose from your available inventory.
- Finish and hand off. Apply the label to the bottle, collect payment from the patient (if applicable), and provide the medication, receipt (if desired), and medication information sheet.
That’s it. The system includes multiple checks along the way to ensure the correct item is dispensed, expired items are never given to patients, all required PDMP data is collected when dispensing a controlled item, and the correct information is captured on the patient label. The label, medication information sheet, and receipt can all be configured to print automatically when the dispense is completed, saving you time.
How Long Does Each Dispense Take?
Once your team is familiar with the system, a typical dispense takes only 15-30 seconds — which is why PharmaLink customers do not need to hire additional staff to run their programs. PharmaLink provides a barcode scanner and label printer, so all you need is a computer with an internet connection and your local black-and-white printer.
What You Can Dispense
PharmaLink offers more than 2,000 branded and generic medications in prepackaged, factory-sealed, ready-to-dispense packages, covering the items most practices prescribe every day. Orders typically arrive within 48-72 hours, and shipping is free on orders over $250. See our medication formulary page for more detail.
Getting Started
Setting up a dispensing program with PharmaLink is straightforward: complete a brief application, provide any licensing your state requires, and we can have your program up and running in as little as 3 business days. Along the way, we help with state regulatory guidance, supplier credentialing, training, and ongoing support.
For a free live demo, or if you have any questions, please complete our contact form and a PharmaLink representative will be in touch with you shortly. You can also browse our frequently asked questions for quick answers to common questions about dispensing.