Drug reps aren't allowed to take us to ball games anymore (I'm okay with that). In fact, this year they've actually been banned from bringing us even cheap pens and post-it notes.
BUT they are still allowed to bring us oddball stuff which falls under "patient education". Like this thing:
What is it? An art deco cactus garden? A model of Bikini Bottom (the home of Spongebob Squarepants)?
Nope. It's a model of the nerve endings of your skin, showing how painful post-shingles pain can be. When you turn it on, notice how the nerves glow red (it's pain, get it)?
And HERE! When you push down on the Lidoderm patch (get it? you're applying it to the skin?) they now glow soothingly blue (ah, that feels better). Thank you, Craig, for the hand cameo.
Isn't this useful! Isn't this revolutionary! Isn't this a great use of your medication money!
The kids and I have now taken out the batteries, and this weekend will study the feasibility of turning it into a new home for Ed, my office fish.
That helps to explain why Lidoderm costs me over $200 for a 30 patch box.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, it will off patent and available as a generic soon.
Works great for my "other nerve pain" due to cervical degenerative disk disease.
Those nerves do look like they can play the part of fish tank seaweed.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was that it was for a fish tank.
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely awesome. I'm a pharmacist and all they bring me anymore is articles about studies they did with the drugs. I read enough studies in 6 years of pharmacy school...
ReplyDeleteMaybe they could go back to pens and post-its if they print drug info on them in teeny-tiny print! Much more useful.
ReplyDeleteIt really does look like a fish tank. You'll need to seal it with silicone to get it to hold water, no doubt.
tell him you'd rather have had a pencil sharpener...
ReplyDeletethat is about the most useless, waste of ... blah, blah ...
I can't wait to see the interactive models for Viagra.
ReplyDeleteThat IS awesome! And the bright lights do distract from the price....
ReplyDeletei was gonna say it looks like a fish tank why cant they make a patient education item into something useful that is not taking up just space.
ReplyDeleteGood thinking. I'll like the see the Lidoderm rep's face at his next visit...
ReplyDeleteThat does look like those fake coral things that people put in fish tanks. That's pretty cool. I would totally by the patch that turns my pain blue.
ReplyDeleteLOL; a pen or a coffee cup would have been enough (but I know they can't do that any more; my husband is in purchasing at the local hospital, and he has the list of what the reps can and cannot do)
ReplyDeletebetty
When I first looked at the pic, I thought it was a Sponge Bob themed fish tank. That is TOO funny.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the reps here know that I don't even want to deal with them unless chocolate or Diet Coke is around.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, the medicaid clinic is low priority for them, since I prescribe mostly generics anyway.
Dr. Grumpy,
ReplyDeletePLEASE display this as a fish tank in public view in your office. You must tell us the reaction of the sales rep the next time he walks in and sees it modified.
I gotta see if it's waterproof. I suspect the red lights in the bottom aren't. May take some work.
ReplyDeleteIt's the perfect size for a Betta, though. They only like small spaces.
the guy in the marketing department who thought that up makes more money than Dr Grumpy does.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree they likely do. And so does the marketing person who thinks up the names of drugs.
ReplyDeleteOh Grumpy, you're on to something - next post needs to be about drug names.... Did you know that Geodon was named after the two guys that discovered the drug? George and Don - at least that's what I heard....
ReplyDeleteYou're right,that is a pretty useless piece of junk.I fail to see how it would make anyone feel like taking said drug-if I were around said drug rep,I would pitch it at his head and tell him it in no way represents the utter state of misery(h***) that shingles is.The drug might be a great thing(wish it'd been around in the '90's)but the model is just stupid.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why they don't just put "educational material" on USB flash drives and hand them out like candy. It would actually be cheaper for them, and docs would at least get something useful they could give to their friends/kids/secretaries/etc.
ReplyDeleteSorry, SumDood. They already do that. I have several 2-3 USB drives from them. Only useful thing I've gotten from them since January.
ReplyDeleteI also thought it was part of a flash aquarium! I bet Eric willl love it! (as long as it doesn't electrocute him!)
ReplyDeleteI think Ed would love the soft glowing blue lights in his new (little) fishbowl.
ReplyDeleteWhat junk.
Patient ed, sigh. Rather have the bottle opener...
ReplyDeleteWho is this demonstration for? The people I know who have had shingles would take anything you give them if you told them it would lessen the pain. No demonstration necessary.
ReplyDeleteThis has got to be the most ridiculous thing I've seen from a drug company. I'm so glad we don't get this crap at the pharmacy. What a waste of time and money...
ReplyDeleteMy son would LOVE to play with that.
ReplyDeleteIf it doesn't hold water send it to me... I'd be happy to seal it up for Ed!
ReplyDeleteAll you'd need is some aquarium grade silicone and a nice dry weekend. It wouldn't take too much work and would be TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Did you know that Ansaid Upjohn's flurbiprofen NSAID in the late 80's came from 'another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug'?
ReplyDeleteDid you know it's been resurrected and re-patented as an experimenal Alzheimer's treatment?
ReplyDeleteNo joke. Joys of isomers.
No no no, you HAVE to keep the glowing action!! It's essential!!
ReplyDeleteI would think in terms of that clear waterseal stuff, the stuff where you get a big piping tool at the hardware store and pipe it on to places that need sealing. I think a tour of the hardware store & maybe talking to a good clerk there would reveal lots of various sealants that would do the trick and enable you to seal off the vital stuff.
I want to see PICS when you are done!!
A Condo for Ed! Perfect. The lights are needed though.r
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell did I get thirsty when I saw the "soothing blue" nerve diorama? Interesting...
ReplyDeleteYou have the weirdest day to day experiences, Grumpy.
Oh man, I'm still getting over shingles and I never got a fun patch! I was given some Valtrex and told to "stfu." Then on a holiday my entire family took turns smacking me on the back to make me scream. Like my shingles were a party game.
ReplyDeleteI bet you'd get some patients who would ask about the miniature fish that lives in their nervous system.
ReplyDeleteI recently was hospitalized, and luckily did not run into "patient education" props like this during my recovery. The hospital utilized an on-demand patient education system called TIGR. It was a great experience, allowing me to order movies when I was ready to comprehend. The content was great, adn I could even take surveys on the care I was receiving.
ReplyDeleteHey, they "autoship" us this shit. This is probably better than 3/4 of the crap your thoughtful rep has never junked up your office with and instead is paying $200/month to store!
ReplyDelete