I just started my intern year in OR after moving across the country. Because of this, I haven't had a chance to establish care with a new physician yet, though I plan on doing so. I have relatively well-controlled asthma and only use my albuterol inhaler on rare occasions...so I don't currently have an active prescription. I do have one older inhaler with a few puffs remaining. I wasn't concerned about this, but now that the world is on fire (literally, my city is drowning in smoke from the wildfires) I am starting to feel like I should have new and reliable inhaler on hand.
Can I prescribe myself a basic albuterol inhaler to get through this apocalyptic time? I know that self-prescribing is controversial, so I don't really feel comfortable posing this question to anyone I work with. Also, I feel a bit silly because logistically, I have no idea how I would even do this as I have only ever written prescriptions for patients through the EMR. Is this okay, ethically and legally? And if so...how in general does one go about prescribing?
Thanks
