TOP TEN things you didn't know
about your local #Pharmacist.
10. Monday is our busiest day of the week. If you want faster service, AVOID your pharmacy on Monday.
9. Everything runs smoother and faster if you have your PHARMACY prescription card or information. It doesn't work like your dentist's office or ophthalmologist. And no, we don't mean your medical card either.
8. We've heard every excuse there is on the planet as to why you need your prescription filled early. If we decide to fill your medication early, it's really not because your excuse worked.
7. Lunch time is NOT a time to get your prescription filled in a hurry. Everyone else had the same idea as you... run into the pharmacy during lunch time for a quick fill. We always get a rush between 11:30 and 1:30.
6. We know your daughter is most likely getting birth control because she's sexually active... not to "level out" her hormones. Whatever the reason, we really don't care.
5. We don't like being pushy about getting your immunizations. It's pressure from The Authorities that keep us asking you, pestering you, calling you, and nagging you.
4. We look miserable because we ARE miserable. We're miserable because our company is always on our rear to increase the numbers but they won't give us any extra help. And that's just one of 1,000 reasons.
3. We rarely get to finish our lunch. In fact, most times we get maybe a bite or two and that's it. Most retail pharmacies don't have a lunch period for the pharmacist. Most pharmacists work at least one 12 to 14 hour day a week too.
2. We used to have a sense of humor. We really did. Then people happened. Whiny, annoying, ungrateful, miserable people who expect the entire world to take care of them.
And the NUMBER ONE secret you didn't know about your local pharmacist is...
1. We don't know everything!
We get every kind of pharmacy question out there. But we also get asked about medical issues, first aid issues, dental issues, grocery issues, the price of ice cream, milk, bananas, and soda pop. People come to us for help on their taxes, mortgage, algebra questions, history questions, government questions. You name it, we've been asked a question about it like our pharmacy name tag immediately makes us an expert on everything. But the problem is, we don't know everything.
I took my daughter to a new dr the other day and they asked for our pharmacy name. I was stumped. I joked that 'she wasn't allowed to get sick.' They asked where we wanted any prescriptions sent and said "in our hands."
ReplyDeleteOh, I get the wisdom behind one pharmacy to handle all of your 'scripts, but she has NONE. Three years ago, we got Zyrtec filled because the dr said that would be cheaper. Cheaper than name brand? YES, but not cheaper than generic. Before that, her last prescription was for fluoride when she was five.
However, we are busy and live either in the middle of nowhere, or the center of everything that you don't mind driving 40 minutes to do. So, if she needed something on that day, she also had a dentist appt in one town and we would have filled it there. If she needs something next week, when her brother needs picked up at college, we will get it THERE. Oh, and if she is really sick, there is a mom-n-pop we like that is 10 minutes away, but our schedule doesn't match their hours.
But you can't explain that while standing in the lobby talking to a girl who almost typed 'in our hands' as a pharmacy name. So, once I said that we would want a PAPER copy and would make a choice if we needed to, she said the words I want to share with you now...
"If we submit it electronically, it will be ready when you get there."
I could have corrected that on your behalf, but my daughter was clearly embarrassed enough, so I answered that 'we don't mind waiting.'
BTW - I can't convince the daughter to go on the pill to even out her cycle because she is afraid someone will think she is active...
MBee
Zyrtec is the NAME BRAND! The generic name is cetirizine. Other than that mistake (and a few grammatical errors), you may pass.
DeleteWho the hell decided that all prescriptions/refills will be handled by your pharmacy? If I hear one more voice mail saying, "For refills, even if your prescription has no refills, please contact your pharmacy and they will contact us." If I pay $150 for a doctor's office visit and an rx, then I expect my doctor's office to provide refills if appropriate. IT IS NOT THE PHARMACY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTACT MY DOCTOR FOR ADDITIONAL REFILLS! My doctor is making the big bucks and passing off the crap work to the pharmacy that actually loses money on most prescriptions. The pharmacy is not your bitch and as a doctor, you need to take responsibility for seeing that your patients have adequate refills until their next scheduled visit.
ReplyDeleteI think I am now in love with anonymous...
ReplyDeleteThere are many medical reasons to be on birth control . . .
ReplyDeleteIf pharmacies start to charge patients a fee for contacting their provider for refills, maybe the patients will figure out they can contact their physician for free themselves! It is not our job to babysit the patient and keep track of their refills!
ReplyDeleteI was on triphasic birth control pills starting at 14 and did not become sexually active until several years later. So glad "you know" better than my doctors, parents and I did. Just think, when I was upset and embarrassed that the people at the pharmacy would think I was a slut and my parents told me that no one there would judge me, they were wrong! AWESOME
ReplyDeleteCarolyn,
ReplyDeleteThe comment is about a common problem we have at the pharmacy-- people lie. I did not imply, nor does being on birth control itself imply that the girl is a "slut." That's a judgment YOU made. So in your mind, anyone at any age that's on birth control is automatically a slut? AWESOME.
I make no judgement why someone is on birth contol. I've seen a little bit of everything after 15 plus years in the pharmacy and I really don't care why you are on it.......but when I have to listen you you trying to explain and "justify" then I do wonder "why though doth protest too much"
ReplyDelete