WELL-INTENTIONED BUT HARMFUL

If you or a family member has ever had surgery or been ill or in pain,
recent changes passed by the Florida Legislature may affect you.

As of Oct 1, physicians will no longer be allowed to order frequently used
pain medications over the phone or allow refills to be included on written
prescriptions. The intention of the legislation was to prevent drug
traffickers from avoiding prosecution because of legal technicalities.
Prescription medications such as Vicodin, Lorcet and Lortab may be
reclassified because of one isolated incident.

Although well-intentioned, this Legislation creates changes that will be
harmful to patients who have legitimate needs for these medicines. There
will be delays getting in to see specialists. If you are in pain any time
over the weekend, your only option will be to visit an emergency room. This
is not the optimal way for patients to receive continuity of care.

As a nurse practitioner in an orthopedic practice, I am very concerned about
the impact this change will have on our patients. Although my physician
colleagues try to anticipate patient needs ordering pain medications, it is
not realistic to believe that this can be accomplished all the time. If this
is not readdressed quickly, one could only hope that all pain will be
experienced only between 9 and 5 Monday through Friday.