When Inheriting a Patient Panel Means Inheriting Unsafe Prescribing

A version of this question comes up regularly in NP communities, almost always from someone who is new to her workplace:

“I inherited a panel and I’m realizing the previous provider was prescribing chronic benzodiazepines and managing psychiatric conditions that are really outside of primary care. I want to practice safely but I’m not sure how to transition these patients without everything blowing up.”

Here is the honest answer: things are going to blow up. Patients will be upset. People around you will pressure you to go along. Some of them will do it politely and some of them will not. If you want to practice safely, you do not have a choice about any of that.

I know this because I have been in this exact position. Here is what happened, and here is what to do.