University was the good life. Even if you were working in a pharmacy at the time your technical knowledge didn’t really have to be up to scratch. We probably don’t like to admit it, but as a pharmacy student and intern, you mostly expected to not know things. As soon as that day clicks over and you are what it says on your degree, you suddenly need to know everything. While I say that with a sense of absurdness, no one can know everything, there is definitely that expectation particularly from the non-pharmacists you deal with. Not only are you expected to know about drugs, but pretty much anything medically related.

Copyright 20th Century Fox, and Apple...I guess?

It seems customers have lost the plot when it comes to owings. I am not sure if this is the same general term used overseas, but in Australia, when we give a few tablets to get someone by if deemed urgent enough if they don’t have a script (but we have evidence of their medication history), we give them an ‘owing’ (usually between one and three days supply).

I get that this image isn't totally relevant to the post, but I like it, so there.

All too often, and I am guilty of this myself, we persist to try explain to a customer on the phone the situation so they can fully comprehend it. In our minds, we are optimistic, we think “Yes, if I explain it very clearly and slowly, they will finally understand!”, however, this doesn’t happen.

These phone calls come from regular customers, strangers who pointed at the first pharmacy number in the phone book, and new customers who have never received a drug before. The topics range from anything to trying to explain why it is not out fault Pfizer stopped producing a drugs twenty years ago, or why that segment on the current affairs show about that drug that turned the lady blue is not relevant to them, and is reversible anyway (true story). The problem is that it’s in our nature to try make people understand. This is what we are told to do, counsel, educate, be a valuable asset to the community as a beacon of drug information – a lighthouse in the storm of pills, if you will.  What actually happens in a lot of cases…the customer does not care what you are saying, they just like talking out loud and are waiting for you to say “Oh yes, you’re right, I’m wrong, want a pack of free jellybeans?!” (more…)

I haven’t written much over the past few days with yesterday’s exception, so I thought I’d follow up today before NYE.  I took a swipe at the potentially abrasive personalities that may see themselves employed as interns, and hoped my jibes might include some useful pointers that can assist them to get on better with their fellow staff. Now, I’m directing this at you preceptors/pharmacists-in-charge out there. Yes, some of you suck, too.

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It’s not as simple as saying there are good interns and bad interns. There are a variety of traits and behaviors which can affect the level of excellence or suckiness that you, as a new Pharmacist Intern, will possess. For those starting the new year as an intern, you might get some ideas from this article that will make you get a little more from your year.

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It’s that time of the year. To reflect upon the past twelve months. I will focus on the professional aspect of that question. In our work lives, could we have done things better, both for our customers and for ourselves? Has your drug dealing been all it could have been?

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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.

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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.

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We tend to have a natural skepticism toward drugs reps, but we really should be skeptical about the information and not make it personal with the rep…

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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.

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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…)

I came across this article which mentions something we’ve read in similar studies and articles that state that pharmacists are the top, or in the top three usually, most trusted professions. I wonder if we still feel this to be the case for a couple reasons.

In a recent post I mention the move toward discount pharmacies. While this may have some positives for the public on their bottom line when visiting the pharmacy, there are somedraw backs I will discuss later, but for now I want to focus on the issue of trust. Going back a few years, I don’t really think you need to go back to far, lets say, maybe four or five years ago, the public did not have a clear concept on drug pricing. The pharmacy would charge what they charge and that was that. Now, for those in the pharmacy profession, I think we can agree  previously we were charging reasonable prices and this helped support what is effectively a small business for the owner and all the costs involved, as well as having many staff on hand so when a customer walked in wait was minimal. Secondly, there is an onus of responsibility on the pharmacist who has also dedicated much time and expense in becoming qualified, so in line with similar professions, monetary reimbursement is expected. In general, it was a fair system. (more…)

Here’s an interesting article from the Canadian Pharmacist’s Journal regarding establishing a vaccine practice on site. While this type of practice is not advancing in Australia, there are places such as Canada which are moving ahead.

The article mentions the advantages to the patient/customer as well as the pharmacist for this practice. Firstly it acts as a point of call for education and information particularly about travel vaccines. It is a convenient place and (probably) easy to schedule the vaccination. This is of particular help if booking at the doctor’s is not able to be time with a departure date, and eases the burden on the G.P. office to take in patients for vaccinations which takes away time from those patients that have more pressing investigations needed. (more…)

While I’m sure there was no real meaning behind this, I couldn’t help but smile when National Pharmacies’ online competition for the PS3 gave a little free advertising to Grand Theft Auto IV, the least family friendy game they could have possibly picked. That’s what happens when you grab the first image that pops up on a google search! (more…)

For those in Australia, we are familiar with large chain pharmacy companies such as National Pharmacies, Chemmart, Chemplus, Amcal and so on. Now we have (relatively) newer ones such as Chemist Warehouse, United Discount Chemists, and Priceline. There seems to be a heading in a discount marketed direction, however the originals are still keeping their same banners and general ‘non-discount’ image. Do you feel this is hurting or helping the industry by marketing pharmacies as drug warehouses. These pharmacies are still providing the same counselling and professional services, but on observer may say the outfit of the store may be diminishing the professional reputation of pharmacies. (more…)