Originally posted by seths99
I'm not shitting on your job or your ability to count pills.
yeah
I'm not shitting on your job or your ability to count pills.
yeah
Forum > General Discussion > The "Random crap that isn't worth a thread" thread
Biggest law that's irritating: Techs now have to count schedule 2 drugs. Before the law change, only pharmacists could count them. Now the pharmacists still have to count them, double count them, back count the number still in the stock bottle, and log it in a book, but now techs also have to count them, double count them, log and sign the count without the backcount on top of it. And a LOT of our prescriptions are C-2. Slowed us the hell down.
Venkman
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I asked this question of a chick I was attempting to pick up while internet dating a few years ago, and she got offended as shit, so I hope you don't do the same, cause it's a legit question that I'm sure has an answer, I just don't know what that answer is, but what does a pharmacist actually DO nowadays? I know 10-20 years ago, pharmacists really had to be on the ball regarding keeping meds straight as far as interactions, etc, but it seems as if all of that it driven by programs nowadays that anyone could use. In the last few years, I have asked pharmacists for information on the safety of meds in combination, and they invariably have simply looked it up and printed me off whatever info they found on the computer. In one case, it was literally a google search result. I have also asked two about modes of action on certain meds, and they had nothing for me that I didn't know already from simple internet searching. Have I just ran into shitty pharmacists? What really IS the job of a counter pharmacist these days in the age of computers? (I understand the difference between a counter pharmacist and a surgical pharmicist who must make quick judgements on dosages, etc)
Venkman
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Originally posted by Knick
yeah
dude, he's a pharmacy tech now still in school. he can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's a large part of his job.
well, and the bottling.
yeah
dude, he's a pharmacy tech now still in school. he can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's a large part of his job.
well, and the bottling.
No offense taken. Most pharmacists are unhappy in retail. Most of their job is clerical at this point. They count schedule 2 drugs, look for interactions, make sure the prescription was put in the system exactly as it should be, make sure the pills are what they're supposed to be, counsel anyone who wants to be counseled (generously 1 in every 20 people actually wants to be, most are old), and that's it. They also check PDMP for narcotics to make sure people aren't scamming and getting narcotics more often than they should, which is somewhat of a service to everyone.
It's really not a job that couldn't be done by a tech with a couple weeks of training in drug interactions (most of which we know anyway) drug functions, and clerical work (most of which we do)
But if anything actually does go wrong, they are fully liable. They have malpractice insurance just like doctors do, and they can be sued to hell and back, so they take on a hell of a lot more responsibility
It's really not a job that couldn't be done by a tech with a couple weeks of training in drug interactions (most of which we know anyway) drug functions, and clerical work (most of which we do)
But if anything actually does go wrong, they are fully liable. They have malpractice insurance just like doctors do, and they can be sued to hell and back, so they take on a hell of a lot more responsibility
It is amazing how little the consumer is empowered in the process of obtaining prescription drugs. There is this strange interaction between the doctor, pharmacist, and insurance that really keeps consumers from shopping.
I have told this story before, but when getting anti-depressants for my aunt, I called into question the price of what was prescribed. After talking to the doctor, another prescription was given for a medication that was approximately 8x less expensive out of pocket for her. I questioned further about the effectiveness of each and why one was prescribed over another, and I was basically told that such meds are a crap shoot.
I have told this story before, but when getting anti-depressants for my aunt, I called into question the price of what was prescribed. After talking to the doctor, another prescription was given for a medication that was approximately 8x less expensive out of pocket for her. I questioned further about the effectiveness of each and why one was prescribed over another, and I was basically told that such meds are a crap shoot.
Originally posted by foofighter24
It is amazing how little the consumer is empowered in the process of obtaining prescription drugs. There is this strange interaction between the doctor, pharmacist, and insurance that really keeps consumers from shopping.
Capitalism at it's finest!
It is amazing how little the consumer is empowered in the process of obtaining prescription drugs. There is this strange interaction between the doctor, pharmacist, and insurance that really keeps consumers from shopping.
Capitalism at it's finest!
Originally posted by Corndog
Capitalism at it's finest!
You consider Medicare to be "Capitalism at its finest"?
Capitalism at it's finest!
You consider Medicare to be "Capitalism at its finest"?
Originally posted by seths99
What really IS the job of a counter pharmacist these days in the age of computers? (I understand the difference between a counter pharmacist and a surgical pharmicist who must make quick judgements on dosages, etc)
At least twice a week I'll find a doctor at the desk on the phone with the pharmacist asking him which drug to prescribe at what dose and how often. They're the ones generally calling the nurses' station telling us we have to call the doctor to clarify this, or whatever because doctors are more or less incompetent when it comes to the clerical side of hospital protocols and care.
As for the actual job description... I'll defer to the above post.
Edit, by above I mean ram's post. Not whatever else is between here and there.
What really IS the job of a counter pharmacist these days in the age of computers? (I understand the difference between a counter pharmacist and a surgical pharmicist who must make quick judgements on dosages, etc)
At least twice a week I'll find a doctor at the desk on the phone with the pharmacist asking him which drug to prescribe at what dose and how often. They're the ones generally calling the nurses' station telling us we have to call the doctor to clarify this, or whatever because doctors are more or less incompetent when it comes to the clerical side of hospital protocols and care.
As for the actual job description... I'll defer to the above post.
Edit, by above I mean ram's post. Not whatever else is between here and there.
Edited by Knick on Jan 27, 2015 20:46:15
I mean, are we saying that a monopoly is not the only logical endgame of capitalism?
Originally posted by Corndog
I mean, are we saying that a monopoly is not the only logical endgame of capitalism?
I don't believe that to be the case. Although, when Taco Bell won the fast food wars, every restaurant became a Taco Bell in Demolition Man...
I mean, are we saying that a monopoly is not the only logical endgame of capitalism?
I don't believe that to be the case. Although, when Taco Bell won the fast food wars, every restaurant became a Taco Bell in Demolition Man...
Originally posted by foofighter24
It is amazing how little the consumer is empowered in the process of obtaining prescription drugs. There is this strange interaction between the doctor, pharmacist, and insurance that really keeps consumers from shopping.
I have told this story before, but when getting anti-depressants for my aunt, I called into question the price of what was prescribed. After talking to the doctor, another prescription was given for a medication that was approximately 8x less expensive out of pocket for her. I questioned further about the effectiveness of each and why one was prescribed over another, and I was basically told that such meds are a crap shoot.
Not accurate. The doctor prescribes what, in his medical judgement, is best. They could be a little more educated on the clerical/insurance side of things to know billing practices, but that's not their job really. Pharmacists try to have a dialogue with doctors so they know what we can and can't do. Insurance is a for-profit business, and they fuck over as many people as possible to keep making money. They are the ones that fuck everything up. For example, medicaid will not cover more than a 1 month supply of anything. Most doctors and patients dont know this and lose their shit on us that they have to come every month for 3 months, after the doctor writes a 3 month supply. Medicaid DME will not cover anything without a diagnosis code explicitly written on the original prescription by the doctor. If it doesn't have a Dx code, the prescription is pretty much trash to them. We need an entirely new one, we can't write it on there ourselves.
All mental health meds are a crap shoot. You can pretty accurately tell how a person's cholesterol and blood pressure will be affected by certain drugs but the psyche is nowhere near as certain. I've seen patients with 7-8 anxiety, stabilizer, and anti-depressant medications before they find the combo that works for them
It is amazing how little the consumer is empowered in the process of obtaining prescription drugs. There is this strange interaction between the doctor, pharmacist, and insurance that really keeps consumers from shopping.
I have told this story before, but when getting anti-depressants for my aunt, I called into question the price of what was prescribed. After talking to the doctor, another prescription was given for a medication that was approximately 8x less expensive out of pocket for her. I questioned further about the effectiveness of each and why one was prescribed over another, and I was basically told that such meds are a crap shoot.
Not accurate. The doctor prescribes what, in his medical judgement, is best. They could be a little more educated on the clerical/insurance side of things to know billing practices, but that's not their job really. Pharmacists try to have a dialogue with doctors so they know what we can and can't do. Insurance is a for-profit business, and they fuck over as many people as possible to keep making money. They are the ones that fuck everything up. For example, medicaid will not cover more than a 1 month supply of anything. Most doctors and patients dont know this and lose their shit on us that they have to come every month for 3 months, after the doctor writes a 3 month supply. Medicaid DME will not cover anything without a diagnosis code explicitly written on the original prescription by the doctor. If it doesn't have a Dx code, the prescription is pretty much trash to them. We need an entirely new one, we can't write it on there ourselves.
All mental health meds are a crap shoot. You can pretty accurately tell how a person's cholesterol and blood pressure will be affected by certain drugs but the psyche is nowhere near as certain. I've seen patients with 7-8 anxiety, stabilizer, and anti-depressant medications before they find the combo that works for them
Originally posted by Knick
At least twice a week I'll find a doctor at the desk on the phone with the pharmacist asking him which drug to prescribe at what dose and how often. They're the ones generally calling the nurses' station telling us we have to call the doctor to clarify this, or whatever because doctors are more or less incompetent when it comes to the clerical side of hospital protocols and care.
As for the actual job description... I'll defer to the above post.
Edit, by above I mean ram's post. Not whatever else is between here and there.
There's a lot of that. Pharmacists can sorta 'coach' a doctor on which prescription might be 'best' (most covered), but no one can actually tell a doctor whats covered or what to prescribe
At least twice a week I'll find a doctor at the desk on the phone with the pharmacist asking him which drug to prescribe at what dose and how often. They're the ones generally calling the nurses' station telling us we have to call the doctor to clarify this, or whatever because doctors are more or less incompetent when it comes to the clerical side of hospital protocols and care.
As for the actual job description... I'll defer to the above post.
Edit, by above I mean ram's post. Not whatever else is between here and there.
There's a lot of that. Pharmacists can sorta 'coach' a doctor on which prescription might be 'best' (most covered), but no one can actually tell a doctor whats covered or what to prescribe
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