Instead of trying to come up with my own descriptions of drug recovery/rehab programs, I thought I’d borrow some I’ve come across, this is not original work, and you can google a phrase if you need the reference, but it’s food for thought, however, keep i in mind to speak to your General Practitioner, local health professional, or local health clinic for more information and to discuss your individual needs.
Description 1: (more…)
I recently was involved in a discussion around whether the old style dispensaries should be changing to something with less barriers to the public, both from seeing what we do and with speaking to us. A chain in Australia experimented with that and I explain why it didn’t work. However, the practicality of dealing with people barking their drug orders to you, as well as the advent of robotic dispensing, things may change again.
How many times have you wanted to call the doctor and say “Seriously dude, really? Is that what you wrote?” While I have avoid saying “dude” in my professional conversations, that about captures what goes through my mind. Doctor’s handwriting – this is an old and much discussed topic of frustration, but still worth a mention. Just because it’s frustrating, yes that’s one reason, and I like to complain, but also because the chance of an incorrect drug being selected also increases.
So we can all admit that not all of the supplements, vitamins, homeopathic, natural, herbal, etc etc products we sell are 100% proven, and things we are likely to recommend to anyone. The Australian Skeptics group have taken it upon themselves to point their finger at pharmacists earlier this year.
This was what I wrote in regard to a specific post on an Australian health blog Croaky. That’s if the comment is approved, it still may be under moderation. I post it because it’s an argument we’ve all heard before, and it really applies to all short sighted views of pharmacy, particularly from our fellow professionals in the healthcare industry who should know better. It always seems to come back to “why do I have to wait so long for my prescription” and “you sell dodgy supplements and bad diet products” etc. I don’t know why I bothered to write such a lengthy response, but I did it on the spur of the moment and thought I’d share it with you.
“C’mon, can’t any of you give me some codeine!? Seriouly, I’ve got a prescription at home…C’MON!”
A little video about pharmacy in 1946, always interesting to know the history of your profession I think. What will pharmacy look like in 2046, not really that far away. There will always be a place for easy access to medications, and there will always be a need for a human, professional, point of contact, but the way in which is will be setup will be interesting to see. I don’t think the standalone robotic dispenser with no human interference will ever happen when it comes to medication.
Can you image? If you slip a buck into a vending maching and your coke gets stuck, you let it go, or you put another buck in and have a shot with getting a fanta. If you put you last remaining repeat prescription into a machine and your migraine medication gets jammed, well, you’re screwed on that buddy. (more…)
One of the major barriers to people being comfortable in coming up to the pharmacist to ask a question is the fact that in most pharmacies, this is far from a private setting.
Some of the names, faces, and appliances have been changed to protect identities
It’s great to be helpful but you need to wonder if things have gone way too far in respect to the ‘above and beyond’ attitude pharmacies take to please their customers…and no, it’s not all about the money/keeping the customers. Some customers are more trouble than they’re (financially) worth to the store, but we keeping chugging along, doing our bit for the people that comes in and out of our store and eventually instill in us an obligation that must help them at all costs. (more…)
A Masseratti, now that would be nice…
Just some buddies from pharmacy around their ride…oh no, wait, that’s the cast of Entourage. My bad. (more…)
A couple of months ago it was ‘Ask Your Pharmacist’ week here in Australia. It occurred with little fanfare, but a nice sentiment nonetheless I suppose. Interesting to note that, as would be expected, Health Minister Nicola Roxon was the government’s representative on this campaign, though this comes at a somewhat tense time between the profession and the government, particularly Ms. Roxon. (more…)
Here’s your Oxycontin (insert mischievous laugh here) (more…)
