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Message
re: What exactly do Pharmacists do?
Posted on 8/1/17 at 8:42 pm to Chad504boy
Posted on 8/1/17 at 8:42 pm to Chad504boy
quote:Score!!!
i had a pain pill mixed in with my kids vitamins not long ago.
Posted on 8/1/17 at 8:54 pm to kevv824
The market pays for what people are worth. Don't disparage what other people do for a living. Better yourself and make more money.
This post was edited on 8/1/17 at 9:29 pm
Posted on 8/1/17 at 10:43 pm to LSUbase13
quote:
Given this day and age, what exactly do pharmacists do? I know they aren't in the back with a mortar and pestle whipping up some drugs that the doctor wrote a Rx for. Every time I see them, they are strictly counting and separating the pills on a blue plastic lid with a spatula.
Mostly they live inside the heads of people who wish they made more money.
Posted on 8/1/17 at 11:01 pm to LSUbase13
I'm a community pharmacist.
I just got home and haven't read through all the posts yet, but it's absolutely more than "counting pills and mixing medicine." I have almost 10 years experience and will do my best to describe my job.
The pharmacist is the most readily accessible source of free and reliable health information. Many who graduated after 2005 have 8 years of college; all have a doctorate in pharmacy. People come to the pharmacy to check their blood pressure or glucose, and to get advice on whether to go to the ER or not for all kinds of problems. We teach people how to deal with everything from styes, lice, drug addiction to proper diabetes diets. We train people how to use glucose meters and medical devices. I could go on and on.
We save people and hospitals millions of dollars by making recommendations that save people from unnecessary treatment or medical errors. We also do Medicare consults for people taking many meds and help them get organized. I have also given thousands of vaccines over the years have saved many lives by identifying heart attacks, hypertensive emergencies, sky-high glucose, have even "diagnosed" a SJS case after the patient was released with a steroid cream. Referred a few manic episodes.
I could never replace someone's physician, but a good pharmacist is a bank of knowledge and experience that saves the lay and medical community time and money. Just like any other medical professional, not all pharmacists are created equal. Some just want to fill your bag and have you out of their line. There are many that really want to help you. If you take more than four medications and have serious health problems, a good pharmacist is essential.
There really is a lot of value to what pharmacists do.
I just got home and haven't read through all the posts yet, but it's absolutely more than "counting pills and mixing medicine." I have almost 10 years experience and will do my best to describe my job.
The pharmacist is the most readily accessible source of free and reliable health information. Many who graduated after 2005 have 8 years of college; all have a doctorate in pharmacy. People come to the pharmacy to check their blood pressure or glucose, and to get advice on whether to go to the ER or not for all kinds of problems. We teach people how to deal with everything from styes, lice, drug addiction to proper diabetes diets. We train people how to use glucose meters and medical devices. I could go on and on.
We save people and hospitals millions of dollars by making recommendations that save people from unnecessary treatment or medical errors. We also do Medicare consults for people taking many meds and help them get organized. I have also given thousands of vaccines over the years have saved many lives by identifying heart attacks, hypertensive emergencies, sky-high glucose, have even "diagnosed" a SJS case after the patient was released with a steroid cream. Referred a few manic episodes.
I could never replace someone's physician, but a good pharmacist is a bank of knowledge and experience that saves the lay and medical community time and money. Just like any other medical professional, not all pharmacists are created equal. Some just want to fill your bag and have you out of their line. There are many that really want to help you. If you take more than four medications and have serious health problems, a good pharmacist is essential.
There really is a lot of value to what pharmacists do.
Posted on 8/1/17 at 11:01 pm to LongueCarabine
quote:
Mostly they live inside the heads of people who wish they made more money.
I would do my job for less. It is that rewarding.
Posted on 8/1/17 at 11:16 pm to OKellsBells
quote:
I would do my job for less. It is that rewarding
Wish we had more like you
Posted on 8/1/17 at 11:28 pm to Chad504boy
quote:
i had a pain pill mixed in with my kids vitamins not long ago.
You get kids vitamins from the pharmacist? My bullshite meter is going off.
Posted on 8/1/17 at 11:31 pm to LSUbase13
quote:
What exactly do Pharmacists do?
what are you, a cop?
Posted on 8/1/17 at 11:49 pm to OKellsBells
It's people like you who make me proud of what we do instead of my supervisor who wants us to fill even fraudulent scripts. Thanks for providing a positive picture of what we do. It makes me believe again because it's so easy to feel jaded and cynical in community pharmacy.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 6:05 am to LSUbase13
There were 6 people back there when I went to refill my Klonopin, still took them an hour and a half. I asked if I could have one while I waited and nobody laughed.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 12:11 pm to moderate one
quote:
It's people like you who make me proud of what we do instead of my supervisor who wants us to fill even fraudulent scripts.
Yikes! Just don't comply, and make copies of the bad Rxs you turn away. If it backfires and the supervisor tries to discipline you, report him/her.
My partner and I (she is the PIC) don't participate in that shite.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 12:37 pm to OKellsBells
very good synopsis... and i sense a lot of jealousy in this thread... lol
Posted on 8/2/17 at 12:39 pm to Topwater Trout
quote:
mine screws me out of my pills...has shorted me at least 3x this year
can I ask where was this? which pharmacy?
Posted on 8/2/17 at 12:58 pm to chRxis
There are definitely some people who are in the profession only for money. Those are the ones who become miserable.
I see it as 100's of daily opportunities to help people and prescribers with health and costs. I'm probably an exception to the norm, but even after very difficult days I feel good about what I did at work.
Prescribers often don't know how much medication ultimately costs their patients. They can't be expected to- because the drug pricing game is complex and varies among individual patients.
Even dealing with frustrating insurance issues can be rewarding. Good pharmacists recognize people struggling with costs and offer to call the doc for cheaper alternatives. We teach patients and doctors how to file formulary exceptions to lower the tier on a copay. We show patients how to use GoodRx or sign up for manufacturer coupons and assistance. If I can tell a Medicare patient on expensive meds will be in the Gap by April, I warn them ASAP to budget for that.
Trying to help the elderly with enormous costs is probably the saddest part of the job.
I see it as 100's of daily opportunities to help people and prescribers with health and costs. I'm probably an exception to the norm, but even after very difficult days I feel good about what I did at work.
Prescribers often don't know how much medication ultimately costs their patients. They can't be expected to- because the drug pricing game is complex and varies among individual patients.
Even dealing with frustrating insurance issues can be rewarding. Good pharmacists recognize people struggling with costs and offer to call the doc for cheaper alternatives. We teach patients and doctors how to file formulary exceptions to lower the tier on a copay. We show patients how to use GoodRx or sign up for manufacturer coupons and assistance. If I can tell a Medicare patient on expensive meds will be in the Gap by April, I warn them ASAP to budget for that.
Trying to help the elderly with enormous costs is probably the saddest part of the job.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 1:27 pm to LSUbase13
At Walgreens they stare into computer screens and have a phone in their ear while their "assistants" fill the scripts. They take a cursory look before sticking it in the bag.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 1:33 pm to damnedoldtigah
I have heard so many complaints about Walgreens and CVS pharmacies. There are definitely some good ones out there, but I don't understand why people would choose to go there vs an independent if they aren't satisfied.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 1:43 pm to LSUbase13
Drugstore pharmacy is a stable, well-paying career but gets boring quickly.
Hospital pharmacy is much more interesting work from what I've gathered.
Hospital pharmacy is much more interesting work from what I've gathered.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 1:49 pm to TejasHorn
Personally I find the opposite to be true, because there is no patient interaction in the hospital. It's just sitting down entering/checking orders or making IVs.
Clinical hospital pharmacists round with prescribers and make recommendations but still don't interact much with patients.
I suppose it depends on the individual which setting is more stimulating.
Clinical hospital pharmacists round with prescribers and make recommendations but still don't interact much with patients.
I suppose it depends on the individual which setting is more stimulating.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 1:52 pm to MrSpock
quote:
CVS pharmacist. Not a damn thing a few lines of code couldn't do.
Ever see those poor bastards? Answer idiot questions all day. Look behind the counter. You will see one stool/chair. That's by design. You don't fricking sit. You sit on your 2 minute break.
Whenever I got to CVS they look absolutely beaten down by life. Heads down, not talking, no smiles. Just sitting there doing what a machine can do and waiting for someone to stick a gun in their face for the 30 norco they may have in the back.
So there is that too. They've moved up to Asian/Pakistani quickie mart guy levels in the "likely to be robbed" list.
Posted on 8/2/17 at 3:15 pm to LSUbase13
Seems like a miserable job.
Stand behind a counter counting pills and dealing with losers looking for a fix.
No thanks.
Stand behind a counter counting pills and dealing with losers looking for a fix.
No thanks.
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