One head, two hands...one very big mouth.
I can only help one person at a time. No matter where you are, if I am doing something else, I can't help you. Stopping to acknowledge you isn't always possible or practical. So be PATIENT and WAIT....two very dirty words, I know.
Hitting the drive thru button multiple times...it's just annoying. I know you are there....the recording tells you that I know you are there. You think it makes me move faster but truth is...I move a little slower....just for you.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
I'm waiting....
I know you got into an accident. But the lady who needs to start her birth control and the kid who wants a flu shot think they are important too. I'll tell you what, if you can get their permission, I'll put you ahead of them. Go on....ask. Oh wait, you'll have to get out of your car and come in to ask. And I know you don't want to do that. So I guess you're stuck.
But each time you come into the drive thru, I have to stop what I'm doing and greet you. Every interruption adds time to your wait. So circling the building like the shark in Jaws isn't very smart if you want me to work quickly.
And, believe it or not, I am working quickly. This is medication, not french fries. You WANT me to take all the time I need to be safe and accurate. Because you are going to put this into your mouth and allow it circulate through your body. So you want it to be 100% correct. Trust.
So howzabout you park yourself somewhere, the parking lot, the chairs, wherever is convenient and WAIT. I know you are important and that you are hurt. I just can't do more than I can do. And high-pressure situations are when mistakes get made. Neither of us wants to be the next big case on Nancy Grace.
But each time you come into the drive thru, I have to stop what I'm doing and greet you. Every interruption adds time to your wait. So circling the building like the shark in Jaws isn't very smart if you want me to work quickly.
And, believe it or not, I am working quickly. This is medication, not french fries. You WANT me to take all the time I need to be safe and accurate. Because you are going to put this into your mouth and allow it circulate through your body. So you want it to be 100% correct. Trust.
So howzabout you park yourself somewhere, the parking lot, the chairs, wherever is convenient and WAIT. I know you are important and that you are hurt. I just can't do more than I can do. And high-pressure situations are when mistakes get made. Neither of us wants to be the next big case on Nancy Grace.
Refill Roulette
There is a reason some medications require a prescription.
Because their use and administration should be initiated and monitored by a doctor. Despite you knowing your body and what you need, the best thing for your health is that you diagnosed and treated by a physician.
There are many doctors who will load you up on refills....tell you to take it when you feel symptoms coming on, keep taking it as long as you need to...have a nice day, don't call us, we'll call you.
These doctors suck.
Just got a call from someone who picked up liquid Nystatin for oral thrush. Swish & swallow. Decided that she also had a yeast infection so she took a fluconazole tablet she had lying around. THEN she called me to find out what to do.
Well, it's kind of too late at that point. You are using an liquid antifungal to clear up your mouth and throat, then swallowing so it travels down the esophagus and treats the oral tract. It will be absorbed and should also provide some coverage for the vaginal yeast infection. It's not the drug of choice, however, so your doctor may have chosen to change your treatment for the thrush to oral fluconazole, which would treat both.
We'll never know....because your doctor loaded you up with extra tablets so you could self-diagnose and treat.
Situations like this are the reason that refills should be limited. Especially on antibiotics. You just think you know everything. I guess you could be right....hey, they do it that way in Mexico. The pharmacias don't require a prescription for anything but controlled substances. And everybody knows that the health care system in Mexico is...well, it's great, right? Clearly they know what they are doing.
Nobody is trying to get an extra copay out of you. If you're sick, you're sick. Get the proper treatment and care. Let me ask you this....what do you spend money and time on? Could you possibly change the order of importance so that health care topped that list? I'm just saying...if we were talking a serious, life threatening drug interaction would you wish you had made time? Is it really that bad to take a few minutes to call a pharmacy or your doctor or to head to the urgent care (although I think most urgent cares are only one step above the pharmacias in Mexico)?
Because their use and administration should be initiated and monitored by a doctor. Despite you knowing your body and what you need, the best thing for your health is that you diagnosed and treated by a physician.
There are many doctors who will load you up on refills....tell you to take it when you feel symptoms coming on, keep taking it as long as you need to...have a nice day, don't call us, we'll call you.
These doctors suck.
Just got a call from someone who picked up liquid Nystatin for oral thrush. Swish & swallow. Decided that she also had a yeast infection so she took a fluconazole tablet she had lying around. THEN she called me to find out what to do.
Well, it's kind of too late at that point. You are using an liquid antifungal to clear up your mouth and throat, then swallowing so it travels down the esophagus and treats the oral tract. It will be absorbed and should also provide some coverage for the vaginal yeast infection. It's not the drug of choice, however, so your doctor may have chosen to change your treatment for the thrush to oral fluconazole, which would treat both.
We'll never know....because your doctor loaded you up with extra tablets so you could self-diagnose and treat.
Situations like this are the reason that refills should be limited. Especially on antibiotics. You just think you know everything. I guess you could be right....hey, they do it that way in Mexico. The pharmacias don't require a prescription for anything but controlled substances. And everybody knows that the health care system in Mexico is...well, it's great, right? Clearly they know what they are doing.
Nobody is trying to get an extra copay out of you. If you're sick, you're sick. Get the proper treatment and care. Let me ask you this....what do you spend money and time on? Could you possibly change the order of importance so that health care topped that list? I'm just saying...if we were talking a serious, life threatening drug interaction would you wish you had made time? Is it really that bad to take a few minutes to call a pharmacy or your doctor or to head to the urgent care (although I think most urgent cares are only one step above the pharmacias in Mexico)?
Drive Thru Adventures: Name that Medication....
I need to know if I have any refills left...
Of what medication?
What do I have available?
Well there's....(name several medications)...
Oh, I don't know....do any of them have refills?
Well...a couple do....why are we playing this ridiculous game and do I get a prize at the end?
Well, I have this new prescription but I didn't know if I had any refills on my other one and....
Wait a minute, you have a prescription and we're playing name that medication and you have a prescription that has the name of the medication on it?
Sometimes I wish I could slam the window in their face....or on their face. Whatever.
Just asking....
Why is it that every syringe request after dark comes from a well-tattooed diabetic? Usually they don't know their dose or what insulin they inject. And they are young. Awfully young to be a type II and awfully ignorant of their disease state to be a type I.
Of course, there are the kind souls that are picking them up for grandpa....at 2:00 in the morning.
And let's not forget the all-time award winner. The guy who was picking up syringes to administer an unknown antibiotic to his dog. One that was suspended in sesame oil. (NOTE: very very very unlikely that this product exists, even more unlikely that a vet would dispense it from his office for home administration and most unlikely that he would wait until midnight on Saturday night to pick up the syringes for his beloved pet.)
Every pharmacist I know struggles with this issue. No one thinks that sharing needles is a good idea. But it really bothers most of us to be contributing to your problem. We know what you are doing to yourself and it's not good. It makes me sad. Do me a favor...ask for what you want, politely, and if we don't have it, walk away. Don't bother with the crazy stories. They're irritating. Because I have to pretend to believe you. Then you think I'm stupid or that you're fooling me. I'm not and you're not.
Of course, there are the kind souls that are picking them up for grandpa....at 2:00 in the morning.
And let's not forget the all-time award winner. The guy who was picking up syringes to administer an unknown antibiotic to his dog. One that was suspended in sesame oil. (NOTE: very very very unlikely that this product exists, even more unlikely that a vet would dispense it from his office for home administration and most unlikely that he would wait until midnight on Saturday night to pick up the syringes for his beloved pet.)
Every pharmacist I know struggles with this issue. No one thinks that sharing needles is a good idea. But it really bothers most of us to be contributing to your problem. We know what you are doing to yourself and it's not good. It makes me sad. Do me a favor...ask for what you want, politely, and if we don't have it, walk away. Don't bother with the crazy stories. They're irritating. Because I have to pretend to believe you. Then you think I'm stupid or that you're fooling me. I'm not and you're not.
I have a question...
I'm all excited....perhaps this person who's shopping at 4 AM needs advice about the proper dosage of an herbal supplement....maybe she hasn't had a bowel movement in a week and needs some advice....maybe it's her child or her parent....
Where's the 9 count Excedrin?
Excuse me?
It's right here, in the ad, where is it?
I don't know....I'm the pharmacist. I don't deal with inventory outside of the pharmacy.
Well, who does?
That would be the 3 front store employees that are currently at the front of the store.
Can't you go get it?
No....even if I could leave the pharmacy unattended, I wouldn't know where to look because...and this is key: I don't stock that area! You'll have to find a front store employee....here, I'll page one for you.
(Mutters as she walks away)
Yes, I went through 6 years of pharmacy school and earned a doctorate for this....I think of the number of times I direct someone to the bathroom or cotton balls, ring out condoms, etc every month when I write out the check for my student loan. It's good times.
Where's the 9 count Excedrin?
Excuse me?
It's right here, in the ad, where is it?
I don't know....I'm the pharmacist. I don't deal with inventory outside of the pharmacy.
Well, who does?
That would be the 3 front store employees that are currently at the front of the store.
Can't you go get it?
No....even if I could leave the pharmacy unattended, I wouldn't know where to look because...and this is key: I don't stock that area! You'll have to find a front store employee....here, I'll page one for you.
(Mutters as she walks away)
Yes, I went through 6 years of pharmacy school and earned a doctorate for this....I think of the number of times I direct someone to the bathroom or cotton balls, ring out condoms, etc every month when I write out the check for my student loan. It's good times.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
I'm going to complain!
To whom?
Your corporate office!
Why?
So they can do something.
What would you have them do? There is a regional shortage of this drug....
Well, Wal Mart has it.
Why don't you just go to Wal Mart then?
Well....
And I'm pretty sure they are out of it to...here, let me call them....oh wait, I can't call them because it's 2 GODDAMN oclock in the morning and all of their pharmacists are snug in their beds. But I can call 15 Walgreens and 4 other BlueBoxes who will all tell you that they are out of this drug too...
I have about had it with the shortages of Adderall. There's no explanation, it just doesn't show up when we order it. And then we have to deal with the crackheads and the panicked mothers who want us to "do something." Then this asswipe shows up wanting the number for our corporate office to complain that I'm not stocking a drug that he needs and it's inconvenient for him.
Really buddy?
Here's that number -- I'll even dial it for you. Let me know what they decide to do.
Your corporate office!
Why?
So they can do something.
What would you have them do? There is a regional shortage of this drug....
Well, Wal Mart has it.
Why don't you just go to Wal Mart then?
Well....
And I'm pretty sure they are out of it to...here, let me call them....oh wait, I can't call them because it's 2 GODDAMN oclock in the morning and all of their pharmacists are snug in their beds. But I can call 15 Walgreens and 4 other BlueBoxes who will all tell you that they are out of this drug too...
I have about had it with the shortages of Adderall. There's no explanation, it just doesn't show up when we order it. And then we have to deal with the crackheads and the panicked mothers who want us to "do something." Then this asswipe shows up wanting the number for our corporate office to complain that I'm not stocking a drug that he needs and it's inconvenient for him.
Really buddy?
Here's that number -- I'll even dial it for you. Let me know what they decide to do.
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