Do practitioners need to be individually registered with controlled substances if they are dispensing or prescribing during the usual course of professional practice under a hospital?

Practitioners who are authorized to dispense or prescribe controlled substances while working within a hospital typically do not need to be individually registered with controlled substances, as long as they are doing so in the usual course of their professional practice under the hospital's registration. This allows for a more streamlined process and facilitates patient care, ensuring that healthcare providers can focus on their clinical duties without the burden of individual registration, which can be an administrative challenge.

The assumption here is that the hospital itself maintains a controlled substances registration, under which its practitioners can operate. This collective registration covers professionals such as physicians and nurses who are acting within the scope of their employment at the facility. It promotes efficient medication management within the healthcare setting while still adhering to regulatory standards set by entities such as the DEA and state regulations.

In contrast, options suggesting conditional registration (like only if not employed by the hospital) or specific substances do not align with the overarching regulations that support the comprehensive coverage offered under the hospital's registration.