[Russ_Boston]

Thanks for the clarification. I only know what we are required/allowed to do in MA.

A good lesson in the classification system. I wasn't aware of the particulars. Learn something every day!

[JohnN]

I've had the same bad experience with electronic Rx's, had to go back and get paper

[Mallory Voice]

Originally Posted by F16 1UB

I'm at the docs office yesterday and was told I need 3 prescriptions filled and was asked "Do you want me to electronically send them in for you?" I said sure and specified what pharmacy. This was 2 PM. At 5 PM I called the pharmacy & still nothing received from the docs office. Pharmacy said to call back at 8 PM because sometimes at the COB they fax all orders at once. Whatever....8 PM call to pharmacy nuttin.

This morning I called the docs office..... records said I was given prescriptions. BS....The office was informed that NO I'd never received the scrips and they were "supposedly" sent electronically. Docs office apologized and said they made a mistake and would call the pharmacy right away. I said I'd be in to get the scrips from the docs office and deliver them myself. They assured me they'd be called into the pharmacy. I reluctantly said OK. 1 hour later I picked up my scrips from the pharmacy.

A word of advice - Hand carry your scrips to the pharmacy of your choice to ensure they're received. Oh yeah & last May my scrips were sent to the wrong pharmacy. Another reason to hand carry & deliver the scrips yourself especially if the pharmacy is near your home.

Ya can't make this stuff up.

Life is good. Cold but no snow.

GREAT ADVICE! Thanks, Mallory Voice

[Bonnevie]

I'm a pharmacist, also. I used to work in a retail pharmacy but got out because of the abuse pharmacists take on a daily basis. Believe me, we want as much as you do, to have things go smoothly. Any problems cause work to back up and make us more behind. A considerable amount of the time it is the physician who made the mistake, yet we take the abuse. Retail pharmacies are a business like any other. Just as getting thru to customer service to any place these days requires going thru multiple phone trees, retail pharmacies are trying to do more with less. That includes cutting staff and keeping inventory to a minimum. Obviously, fast movers are in stock all the time. But odd ball items may not be--or they may have had some but the same doc likes to use it and has prescribed it to more than one patient that day. No business, whether pharmacy or any other, wants to keep expensive merchandise on the shelf and with drugs shelf life is limited.
As patients given the new environment, it's important to stay on top of things. Order refills in plenty of time to give a place time to order if they are out. They usually can get an item in a day. Take note when you get your last refill....make sure you either have the pharmacy call or you call your doctor before you run out. Again, the key is not to wait until you are out or almost out.
and please, don't take it out on the poor pharmacists in these stores. they are under incredible pressure...increased work load, constant interruptions, now they have to give vaccine shots and their work has to be perfect. At my hospital we just got a pharmacist from CVS and she said she was yelled at everyday. she took a pay cut but is thankful every day to be out of retail pharmacy. Even at our hospital we take a lot of abuse, but she said it is nothing like CVS.

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by Bonnevie

I'm a pharmacist, also. I used to work in a retail pharmacy but got out because of the abuse pharmacists take on a daily basis. Believe me, we want as much as you do, to have things go smoothly. Any problems cause work to back up and make us more behind. A considerable amount of the time it is the physician who made the mistake, yet we take the abuse. Retail pharmacies are a business like any other. Just as getting thru to customer service to any place these days requires going thru multiple phone trees, retail pharmacies are trying to do more with less. That includes cutting staff and keeping inventory to a minimum. Obviously, fast movers are in stock all the time. But odd ball items may not be--or they may have had some but the same doc likes to use it and has prescribed it to more than one patient that day. No business, whether pharmacy or any other, wants to keep expensive merchandise on the shelf and with drugs shelf life is limited.
As patients given the new environment, it's important to stay on top of things. Order refills in plenty of time to give a place time to order if they are out. They usually can get an item in a day. Take note when you get your last refill....make sure you either have the pharmacy call or you call your doctor before you run out. Again, the key is not to wait until you are out or almost out.
and please, don't take it out on the poor pharmacists in these stores. they are under incredible pressure...increased work load, constant interruptions, now they have to give vaccine shots and their work has to be perfect. At my hospital we just got a pharmacist from CVS and she said she was yelled at everyday. she took a pay cut but is thankful every day to be out of retail pharmacy. Even at our hospital we take a lot of abuse, but she said it is nothing like CVS.

I believe this!!! As an aside to this....we live near 466A where the "traffic" has gotten incredible. Colony Plaza is "crazy" busy and it's not even "high season" yet. When picking up RX's at Walgreens a lot of the time there is a wait (meaning a line). I've seen people be down-right nasty, swearing and taking it out on others (in the line and behind the counter). I've observed the pharmacy workers smile and take it, which is good customer service for sure but I've wanted to give them a hug after some of the scenes I've observed. I really don't want my RX's messed up! Granted some folks don't feel well so that could be part of the behavior but really people, does it get the job done faster to have an out-burst?? Anything given with "sugar" will work better in the long run!

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

I believe this!!! As an aside to this....we live near 466A where the "traffic" has gotten incredible. Colony Plaza is "crazy" busy and it's not even "high season" yet. When picking up RX's at Walgreens a lot of the time there is a wait (meaning a line). I've seen people be down-right nasty, swearing and taking it out on others (in the line and behind the counter). I've observed the pharmacy workers smile and take it, which is good customer service for sure but I've wanted to give them a hug after some of the scenes I've observed. I really don't want my RX's messed up! Granted some folks don't feel well so that could be part of the behavior but really people, does it get the job done faster to have an out-burst?? Anything given with "sugar" will work better in the long run!

As a pharmacist, I'd like to add that while we have to deal with some pretty nasty acting folks, most of also realize that when folks are sick or worried about someone that is sick they can be unpleasant. Most of my customers were patient, appreciative, and just plain nice. Many became friends and remain so until this day. I especially remember the kids, some of whom were quite ill. When their parents would come up to me and tell me that their child was happy that day because they were going to see pharmacist Barry, it would get to me a bit.

[Pa & Giggi]

Barry, as a patient I surely have met a nasty pharmacist (CVS on 441). I will never step foot into that CVS again even though my insurance requires my 90 day Rx's to be filled by CVS. Fortunately, I can use the mail order so that is what I will do from now on.

Having worked for a group of cardiologists I realize just as you do how taxing it can be working with patients, however I believe that some pharmacies go for volume rather than customer service. I have never been treated badly at The Medicine Chest which is where all of my 30 day Rx's will be filled from now on, and my insurance does allow that.

Barry continue to be a pleasant pharmacist and your customers will appreciate it. It doesn't go unnoticed, believe me.

[Bonnevie]

I'm certainly not saying every pharmacist is blameless. I've had bad experiences myself. I'm just saying most problems can be avoided with some foresight and that some patients take their frustration over what was a problem due to their doctors or insurance company on the poor pharmacist or tech. Like Barry, when I am able to help a patient with a problem or have caught a dosing error, or bad drug interaction and prevented a bad outcome, I remember why I went into pharmacy...