A note on our philosophy here.... We try very hard to give the patient the number of refills we think they should have at the time we write it to last until they need to be seen next. There are a few exceptions, but ALMOST ALWAYS when a patient seeks a refill, they need an appointment. Consequently, I rarely respond to refill requests from pharmacies. On the surface that sounds really rigid, buy it really cloaks a pretty liberal initial fill policy (you have refills on your lisinopril for a year. If you need a refill, you really need to come in for an appointment), and it keeps me out of trouble ("what do you mean, doctor, you refilled her vicodin and methotrexate eleven times and neglected to measure her lab or enquire about her continued narcotic use?" This technique cuts down on a lot of work in the office, and assures that a patient is getting seen appropriately. I recognize other practices will differ ... you don't maybe need a visit because your UTI flared up... but our practice is pretty much all chronic illness, and we have felt good about our approach.
