Thursday, April 11, 2013

No, I won't talk on YOUR cell phone

It happens a lot. People don't have refills, or an Rx is unclear, and here at the pharmacy we're not able to get a hold of the doctor right away. The patient, with his/her cell phone, dials a secret number which puts them right through to the doctor, explains what is going on, THEN tries to hand the cell phone over to me so I can speak to the doctor directly.

I have been stupid enough to take the phone in the past, but NO MORE. I stand my ground now. I do NOT want your germs. I do not know where you've had that cell phone, whether it be in your bra, your pants, or whether you wash your hands after going to the bathroom and then make a cell phone call. I'm NOT going to talk on YOUR phone anymore. I don't care if you're insulted or whether or not the company thinks this is bad customer service.

Now I hold up my hand in a STOP gesture and tell them, "Have the doctor call me at the pharmacy." This is especially troublesome because these types of people used their cell phone in the first place because they're IN A HURRY and this damn pharmacist is holding them up. It never ends up nicely, but guess what, I DON'T CARE.
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5 comments:

  1. 3SweetiesApril 11, 2013 at 5:49 AM

    I hate this too!! During flu season, we had a guy in filling Tamiflu. His insurance didn't cover it, and even though I called the insurance company myself to confirm that fact, he still insisted on calling them also. THEN he tried to hand me his phone to talk to the insurance co again. When I said, "sir, don't you have the flu? I am not comfortable using your phone," he was pissed off. Fortunately, the ins rep agreed to call me at the pharmacy instead, to have the same conversation we had already gone over. I've got a whole blog post about it.

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  2. AnonymousApril 11, 2013 at 12:56 PM

    Talking on somebody elses cellphone about medical issues has HIPPA violation written all over it.
    That's why I wouldn't do it.

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  3. AnonymousApril 11, 2013 at 11:29 PM

    Also, how to confirm it was really the doctor they called, and that it isn't a scam?

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  4. Frantic PharmacistApril 13, 2013 at 11:37 AM

    I absolutely hate this too. I feel perfectly comfortable telling people I cannot use their cell phone. And what IS that secret number they call when I can't get through to the doctor's office -- ever??

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  5. AnonymousApril 18, 2014 at 7:59 PM

    This is hilarious because I'm a pharmacist and was just searching the internet for "i hate it when people hand me their phones" the only thing that pops up are other pissed off pharmacist tired of being handed phones. I hate cell phones because everyone thinks everything is done with the click of a button.

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