Policy and Procedure McMinnville Free Clinic PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
McMinnville Free Clinic (MFC) seeks to comply with federal and state regulations regarding
prescription of medications. Controlled substances can be dangerous if not carefully monitored and
should have more oversight than the intermittent clinics at McMinnville Free Clinic allows.
Additionally, because of federal guidelines around these medications because of the potential of risk
of addiction and abuse, it is the policy of McMinnville Free Clinic that prescribers are to avoid
prescribing controlled substances, including, but not limited to narcotics, benzodiazepines,
Procedure
1. Physicians and physician assistants should practice under the prescribing guidelines set up
by of the Oregon Medical Board. Nurse practitioners should practice under the guidelines
of the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Prescriptions should contain state required
components, including: patient name, date prescription written, name and strength of drug,
quantity, patient instructions and dosage, route of administration, frequency of dose,
duration of treatment if not indefinite, number of refills, prescriber’s signature. Consider
2. Prescriptions will be written on McMinnville Free Clinic prescription pads or called to the
1. Refills may be given without a provider seeing the patient if the patient meets the following
a. If a patient comes in and requests a refill only, they are to be triaged, preferably by
the lead nurse. The nurse will look at the patients last chart notes. If:
ii. All pending medical issues are resolved - labs, tests, recheck/follow up,
elevated previous labs or vitals (eg: A1c or blood pressure) within criteria
iii. Patient is not having side effects or problems with medication
b. Then the nurse will consult with a provider and have prescription written at the
provider’s discretion, signed, and given to patient with appropriate education and
1. MFC’s policy is that controlled substances and substances with the potential for abuse will
not be prescribed. This includes, but is not limited to narcotics, benzodiazepines,
amphetamines, and tramadol. This should be explained by the nursing staff at intake or
during triage. There may be rare incidences where a provider feels there is a compelling
reason to make an exception to this policy.
a. If a provider feels that an exception should be made for an acute issue, MFC’s policy
is that the provider should discuss the case with another provider, preferably the
provider in charge for the day. If another provider is not available, the provider may
also discuss the case with the clinic coordinator in order to receive another viewpoint
and be sure that clinic policy is followed as much as possible. If an exception is
made and a controlled substance is prescribed, the chart is to be forwarded to the
b. The expectation is that any controlled substances prescribed would be for short term
use with no refills. Refills will not be written for controlled substances without seeing
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Policy and Procedure