Medical Associates Clinic Sample Medication Policy

· Concerns over patient safety – Recent confusion over medication instructions has put patients at risk.

· Patients have become reliant on samples as a sole form of obtaining their medications. The clinic cannot reliably provide needed medications for patients with multiple health problems. Some patients are not filling their prescriptions that they need as they are waiting for samples to arrive.

· The clinic can’t function as a pharmacy. The federal government allows the distribution of samples for the start of medical therapy but discourages long-term maintenance sampling for patient care. (Ask your physician for information on pharmaceutical company drug assistance forms if needed.)

· Providing samples limits valuable physician and nursing time. To distribute samples a provider must sign out samples to a specific patient each time for each drug.

· Nurses and physicians are being asked to take care of many more patients that need to be seen urgently.  Currently the majority of nurse messages are being directed at sample requests instead of patient care and prescriptions refills. 

Samples may, if available, be provided during patient visits and when beginning new medications.

We appreciate your understanding in regards to this policy. If you have questions about this policy please ask your physician.

The Staff of Medical Associates Clinic