As a combination FP and ER doctor I tend to give the pt. only 12 pills - such as 12 ibuprofen, 12 vicoden, etc, but I do tend to give the whole course of antibiotics since I don't want to see all the earaches over again in my office. This cuts down the drug seekers looking for pain meds.
The problem with primary care is that we expect pt. to have personal responsibility - this weekend I saw multiple pt. who have had symptoms,complaints for 2 weeks to 3 months and just came to the ER because it is convenient and in our town has little or no waiting. Unfortunately due to liability we get backed into ordering workups on these things even if we think they can wait because they are already here...... sorry almost climbed back on that soapbox....
Take care. P.S. I tell my pt. that my policy is to fax all my scrips and I only write about 6 scrips per week on a pad because they are schedule II with medicaid.... I am planning on buying a TPS printer though, just because I am tired of typing the scrip in AC for bookkeeping and then handwriting it out.
