I've had it happen several times that a worker in the Big Box comes by to have me ring up an OTC pharmacy product. Then the reveal "So-and so told me this is the best product and will heal my cold."
Me: "Is So-and so a medical practitioner?"
"No- she works in Shipping (or the Office, or the Food Court)!"
"Do you have any medical problems?"
"Just a little high blood pressure (or diabetes, or asthma)."
"What are your symptoms?" (Obviously to me, the trained professional, this product may not be the optimal one for the patient-maybe I can avert a train wreck at worst and a waste of money at best by doing my job.)
"Just ring me out."
The upshot is that if Velma in shipping swears by Airborne, or massive doses of Vitamin C, or pseudophedrine, Joe Average will schill out those hard-earned Big Box Bucks for a product that may not work at all, may not be appropriate for his disease state, or may actually cause him harm if taken inappropriately.
But what the hell do I know? Two degrees and a license don't hold a candle to the infinite knowledge of Velma.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
My Favorite Prescription
Sig:1 qhs
#30
MD was highly incensed at the phone message left on his voice mail asking for a new telephone order that actually expressed the drug and dose. He says he wrote it very clearly on the hardcopy, and I interrupted him on his vacation.
The second prescription he wrote, for another family member of the first, was dated 2005.
He wanted to know what was wrong with me that I could not read his handwriting since it was clearly dated 2008.
I offered to fax both prescriptions to him to show him what he wrote, but he refused to give a fax number and hung up.
#30
MD was highly incensed at the phone message left on his voice mail asking for a new telephone order that actually expressed the drug and dose. He says he wrote it very clearly on the hardcopy, and I interrupted him on his vacation.
The second prescription he wrote, for another family member of the first, was dated 2005.
He wanted to know what was wrong with me that I could not read his handwriting since it was clearly dated 2008.
I offered to fax both prescriptions to him to show him what he wrote, but he refused to give a fax number and hung up.
How to Get Quick Results at the Pharmacy (and how not to)
It's the easiest thing in the world; dial the pharmacy number. Follow the prompts. If you get a live person, state your name and date of birth, and THEN state your business.
We don't need to have your story, however near and dear it is to your heart. We don't need to know. It isn't going to make our service to you easier or faster, and it will definitely impact the service we are trying to give to the people who are standing in front of me waiting for their prescriptions to be filled.
Here's my usual call. "Hi- I got a call from you saying I have a prescription ready. What medication is it?"
My usual response; "Well, why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you?"
"Why can't they just tell me over the phone when they fill my prescriptions?"
"Because there is a law in place that says for confidentiality purposes, we cannot state your name or the name of the drug. It's an automated call, so it's not a real person, just a notifier voice mail. Why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you?"
"Well, I wish it would just tell me, I don't like not knowing what medication it filled. What if I don't need that one?"
Me: (thinking to self 'I wish I could retire...') "Why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you?"
"I mean last time I had too much of one medication because my doctor gave me some samples, but I came in and you had that one ready and I didn't want it but I had to pay for it anyway.."
Me (gritting teeth in background as the line at the register gets longer) "Why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you? I'd be happy to look it up, but I need to know who I am talking to!"
What galls me is that they will go on and on and on with their thoughts and feelings about how the World of Pharmacy works, but won't give me the basic information I need to answer their question- such as WHO THE HELL AM I TALKING TO?
At this point, I usually chirp "Hold on for a moment- I need to be at a computer to look this up for you!", place 'em on hold for five minutes while I check a few more prescriptions. Being on hold in pharmacy limbo usually makes 'em a bit more forthcoming with information that lets me do my job.
We don't need to have your story, however near and dear it is to your heart. We don't need to know. It isn't going to make our service to you easier or faster, and it will definitely impact the service we are trying to give to the people who are standing in front of me waiting for their prescriptions to be filled.
Here's my usual call. "Hi- I got a call from you saying I have a prescription ready. What medication is it?"
My usual response; "Well, why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you?"
"Why can't they just tell me over the phone when they fill my prescriptions?"
"Because there is a law in place that says for confidentiality purposes, we cannot state your name or the name of the drug. It's an automated call, so it's not a real person, just a notifier voice mail. Why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you?"
"Well, I wish it would just tell me, I don't like not knowing what medication it filled. What if I don't need that one?"
Me: (thinking to self 'I wish I could retire...') "Why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you?"
"I mean last time I had too much of one medication because my doctor gave me some samples, but I came in and you had that one ready and I didn't want it but I had to pay for it anyway.."
Me (gritting teeth in background as the line at the register gets longer) "Why don't you tell me who you are, so I can look it up for you? I'd be happy to look it up, but I need to know who I am talking to!"
What galls me is that they will go on and on and on with their thoughts and feelings about how the World of Pharmacy works, but won't give me the basic information I need to answer their question- such as WHO THE HELL AM I TALKING TO?
At this point, I usually chirp "Hold on for a moment- I need to be at a computer to look this up for you!", place 'em on hold for five minutes while I check a few more prescriptions. Being on hold in pharmacy limbo usually makes 'em a bit more forthcoming with information that lets me do my job.
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