If you’ve been considering a virtual healthcare appointment but wonder if they can prescribe necessary medications—you’re not alone. As telehealth becomes more common, many people question how medication prescriptions work in the virtual healthcare world.
Dr. Jason Schweichler, a primary care provider at Mount Nittany Health, provides valuable insight into telehealth and online prescription management.
Understanding virtual prescriptions
Telehealth medication prescriptions are similar to in-person medication prescriptions. Before prescribing, your provider will discuss your symptoms, medical history, and current medications. This thorough evaluation ensures you receive the most appropriate care for your needs.
“Most all classes of drugs can be prescribed via telehealth,” Dr. Schweichler shared. “Stable medications can be renewed easily, but if escalation of therapy is needed—like adding asthma inhalers, maximizing CHF meds, etc.—that would be best managed in person.”
Security and safety are important parts of virtual prescribing. Telehealth visits at Mount Nittany Health occur through secure connections, protecting your private health information (PHI) while ensuring appropriate prescribing practices. Your virtual visit offers the same level of privacy and professionalism as an in-person appointment.
What can be prescribed via telehealth?
Many common medications can be prescribed during virtual visits, including:
- Antibiotics
- Blood pressure medications
- Allergy medications
- Skin condition treatments
- Medications for chronic condition management
Prescription refills are often ideal for telehealth management. Medications you’ve been taking successfully are easily managed and refilled via telehealth. Refill request visits allow your provider to evaluate how well your current medications are working, discuss any side effects you might be experiencing, and adjust your treatment plan if needed.
There are some situations in which an in-person visit would be more appropriate. “Initial chronic controlled substance prescriptions should be handled with an in-person visit first as the patient would need to provide a urine drug screen and sign a controlled substance agreement,” Dr. Schweichler explained. “Subsequent visits could potentially be handled via telehealth.”
“Weight loss medication would ideally be managed in person as accurate weights are important to track,” he continued. “There are providers prescribing these medications online, but that can lead to patients lying about their weight just to get the medication even if they are not eligible.”
What cannot be prescribed virtually?
Due to federal and state regulations, some medications cannot be prescribed through telehealth. These typically include:
- Certain pain medications
- Some anxiety and sleep medications
- Other medications requiring in-person evaluation
State laws and regulations play a significant role in virtual prescribing practices. These regulations can affect which medications can be prescribed through telehealth and how they must be monitored. Your provider stays current with these regulations and will let you know if your medication needs require an in-person visit instead of a virtual one.
Virtual prescription process
To make the most of your telehealth visit and prescription needs, gather information about your current symptoms, complete medical history, and any allergies. Also, make a list of all current medications, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements. Having your preferred pharmacy’s contact information ready will help streamline the prescription process.
Your provider will send prescriptions electronically to your chosen pharmacy through a secure system. This process often works better than paper prescriptions, allowing your pharmacy to begin processing your medication shortly after your visit ends.
Making the most of your virtual prescription visit
To make the most of your virtual visit, prepare before your appointment. Think through any side effects or concerns you’d like to discuss with your provider. This will help them make better decisions about your care.
“Basically, if accurate physical exam findings are needed, then an in-person visit is needed,” Dr. Schweichler said. “Patients who have questions can ask the scheduling staff or triage nurses. Many people self-schedule on my telehealth schedule, and we would discuss the appropriateness of refilling medications at the visits.”
During your visit, your provider will thoroughly discuss your medication plan. They’ll explain how to take your medication properly, what side effects to watch for, and when to schedule follow-up care. Your provider will make sure you understand what signs and symptoms might require an in-person evaluation.
At Mount Nittany Health, our telehealth services make managing your medications more convenient while maintaining high standards of care. Our providers will work with you to determine how to best handle your prescription needs. You can schedule an appointment with your provider to explore your options.