Medication
CAPS will prescribe medication
for University clients who have been evaluated by staff psychiatrists or supervised
resident psychiatrists and require pharmacologic treatment.
Prescribing Policies
1. The CAPS psychiatric
staff or residents may prescribe medication for those clients whose psychiatric
conditions require continuing treatment in order for them to achieve their
academic goals. Clients who have insurance and who have more extensive treatment
needs that do not directly impact their adjustment to Penn are referred to
outside therapists.
2. CAPS psychiatric staff and residents will prescribe medications for Penn
clients being seen by non-medical CAPS clinicians. Prescribing medication
to students who are in therapy with a Penn agency but not at CAPS is permitted
under the following circumstances.
a. Release of Information forms allowing consultations with the non-medical
therapists from whom the patient was referred should be obtained.
b. These clients will comply with periodic appointments with the psychiatric
staff and residents.
c. Clients whose conditions require more complicated or extensive treatment
should be recommended to private care after consultation with the campus counselor.
3. Clients in psychiatric treatment outside the Philadelphia region are urged
to inform CAPS of their treatment so that a record is available whenever they
might use CAPS emergency services. We encourage their private home therapist
to provide referrals in the Philadelphia area if they require continuing care,
but we are able to offer private referrals if needed. If a client requires
continued treatment of their illness and they do not have necessary insurance
coverage, CAPS will accommodate them provided we have a Release of Information
for on-going communication with their therapist.
4. Clients in private treatment with non-medical therapists in the Philadelphia
region may have a psychopharmacologic evaluation at CAPS but can not be provided
with on-going medication therapy. Clients will be encouraged to have their
private therapist refer them to a private psychiatric colleague with whom
the therapist consults regularly about medications. In such cases, a release
of information should be obtained and the CAPS psychiatrist or resident (under
supervision) should contact the outside therapist to facilitate the transfer.
