Same-Day Virtual & Telehealth Appointments — North Carolina
Online psychiatrist now serving Apex & all of North Carolina
Bridge Prescription Patient Consent
Temporary, one-time medication refill service
How Bridge Prescription Requests Work
Important Consent Details to Review
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Call (336) 828-2599About Our Bridge Prescription Service
Pinnacle offers a bridge prescription service for established patients. This is for patients who are between appointments and need a short-term continuation of their current medications.
This service is available to established patients in good standing. Your treatment plan must have been recently reviewed by a Pinnacle provider. Controlled substance prescriptions are not included in this service.
If you are a new patient who needs medication management, please schedule a full evaluation. Our same-day visits are a better fit for new patients than the bridge prescription service.
Understanding Bridge Prescriptions in Psychiatric Care
A bridge prescription is a short-term medication supply provided to a patient who is in the process of transitioning between psychiatric providers or who has a gap in their regular care coverage. Bridge prescriptions are intended to ensure medication continuity so that patients do not experience sudden discontinuation of psychiatric medications. This can carry significant clinical risks including symptom relapse, withdrawal effects, and in some cases, psychiatric emergencies.
At Pinnacle Behavioral Health & Wellness, bridge prescriptions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Our licensed psychiatric providers will review your current medication regimen, your clinical history, and your current situation before determining whether a bridge prescription is clinically appropriate. Not all medications are eligible for bridge prescribing. Controlled substances, stimulant medications, and certain high-risk medications require an established provider relationship and cannot be prescribed as bridge medications under North Carolina prescribing guidelines.
What to Expect During the Bridge Prescription Process
To receive a bridge prescription through Pinnacle BHW, you must complete this consent form in full, providing accurate information about your current medications, your prescribing provider, your pharmacy, and your current clinical situation. Our team will review your request and contact you to discuss next steps. In most cases, a brief telehealth consultation will be required before any bridge medication can be prescribed.
Bridge prescriptions are temporary by nature — they are intended to carry you through a transition period, not to replace ongoing psychiatric care. As part of the bridge prescription process, you will be expected to schedule and attend a full psychiatric evaluation with Pinnacle BHW or another provider within a defined timeframe. Our intake team can assist you in scheduling a follow-up appointment so that your care continues uninterrupted.
Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Patient
As a patient requesting a bridge prescription, you have the right to understand what medications are being prescribed, why they are being prescribed, and what the expected duration of the bridge supply is. You also have the right to ask questions about your medications and to receive clear instructions about dosing and any potential side effects. Our providers are committed to transparent communication and will ensure you have all the information you need to take your medications safely.
You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information on this form. These include your current provider contact information, your pharmacy details, and an honest account of your current medication use. Providing inaccurate information may result in the denial of your bridge prescription request and could compromise your safety. If you have questions about the bridge prescription consent process, please call our office at (336) 828-2599 before submitting this form.