Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding the topic on medication prescription by a physical therapist (PT). I do agree with your statement that such privilege to prescribe should only be done when the needed knowledge and training has been ascertained. Training, credentialing, and regulations are the factors to be considered to ensure client safety if PTs were to start prescribing drugs here in the United States (US). As a clinician, the patient’s safety is of utmost importance in all that we do. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) acknowledged the important role that we do in drug management of our patients especially in the home health setting (American Physical Therapy Association [APTA], n.d.). For one thing, all …show more content…
I do not have the appropriate training and skill set even to recommend over the counter medication. However, I believe the confidence can be acquired over time and can be performed if prescribing drugs become part of our scope of practice. The key to the fruition of this undertaking is continuous training. It is important to note that training can lead to better understanding of the duties and behavior of an expanded scope of practice (Strang, Hunt, Gerada, & Marsden, 2007). Furthermore, Davis (2013) asserted that non-medical prescribing is a skill that requires continuous competency. Also in the Army PT model for expanded privileges, they require a competency assessment and training to be credentialed to write prescriptions for selected medications (Benson, Schreck, Underwood, & Greathouse, 1995, p. 381). Hence, I would consider attending annual trainings and competency checks to build up my confidence. However, for now, this course on pharmacology is of great value in building up my foundational knowledge and skills in preparation for what the future may hold for our profession in the field of drug