Core Responsibilities of the Medical Director
As a medical director, you are a clinical leader, gatekeeper, and strategic partner for your practice. You are not only the legal prescribing authority but also the one who sets the standard for compliance and patient care. Your core responsibilities include ensuring that all peptide-related care meets the standards of:
- State medical board compliance
- Patient-provider relationship (PPR) protocols
- Proper diagnosis, prescribing, and documentation
- Clinical education and staff delegation
- Pharmacy sourcing due diligence
ShineRX supports you at each step with ready-to-use tools, training resources, and compliant sourcing partners.
Legal & Compliance Foundations
Before prescribing peptides through your practice, confirm the following are in place:
- State Licensure Alignment: Ensure the prescribing provider holds an active license in the state where the patient resides. For telehealth models, multi-state licensure or medical group support may be required.
- Documented PPR (Patient-Provider Relationship): Every prescription must be preceded by a consult (virtual or in-person), intake review, and appropriate documentation of medical necessity.
- Supervision of Delegated Staff: You are responsible for defining what your RNs, NPs, MAs, or support staff are permitted to do, based on your state’s scope of practice laws.
- Consent & Risk Disclosure: You should approve or provide informed consent language that explains off-label use, potential side effects, and administration risks.
- Approved Protocols or Standing Orders: Clinical teams need clear protocols for each stack. ShineRX provides protocol templates you can customize and sign off on.
Clinical Oversight Structure
| Task | Responsible Party |
| Intake review + diagnosis | MD or NP/PA |
| Peptide selection + dosage | MD or NP/PA |
| Staff education + delegation | Medical Director |
| Consent + EMR documentation | Prescribing Provider |
| Order placement + pharmacy review | Admin staff, under supervision |
| Follow-ups + adjustments | NP/PA (if authorized) |
You may delegate, but ultimate responsibility for safety, oversight, and legal alignment remains with the medical director.
How ShineRx Supports You
We simplify the medical director’s job by providing:
- Protocol templates based on use-case stacks (energy, menopause, sexual health, etc.)
- Prebuilt consent forms and patient education handouts
- Pharmacy documentation (sterility, lot tracing, 503A/503B compliance)
- Workflow support to help you train your team and streamline delegation
- Clinical advisory access if you need help customizing a treatment plan
You stay in control of prescribing decisions while leaning on ShineRX to do the heavy lifting on sourcing, education, and logistics.
When to Adjust Protocols
Medical directors should review and adjust protocols when:
- Patients fail to respond as expected after 4–6 weeks
- Side effects or compliance issues are reported
- Hormone levels, body composition, or symptoms change significantly
- New research or compounding regulations impact certain peptides
- Your scope of services expands (e.g., you add BHRT or IV therapy)
Key Considerations
- Peptides are safe but must be documented like any other prescription treatment.
- Protocols should be reviewed and refreshed quarterly or as new compounds are introduced.
- Clear documentation (intake, consent, notes, outcomes) protects your license and supports continuity of care.
- Medical directors should oversee implementation SOPs, even if the team runs day-to-day operations.
Your leadership ensures peptides aren’t just trendy offerings but clinically credible tools that drive outcomes and loyalty.
Related Pages to Explore
- Integrating Peptides Into Your Workflow »
- Educating Your Clinical Team »
- Consent & Compliance Guidelines »