"Hello, I'm calling from Local Pharmacy about a refill for Dr. Grumpy. It's on patient Amy Loid, for her medication. The idiots at her nursing home didn't realize she was all out until 5 minutes ago, and then were stupid enough to think they could just waltz down here and get more. But no, there were no refills.
"So if someone could please call me to refill this, this bunch of bozos at the care home want it tonight. And I'll be here, tonight, on Christmas Eve, at Local Pharmacy, all damn night. So you can reach me whenever you call. My name is Joy. Thank you."
Even better is when the idiot is the patient themselves. I had one come in this year. We highlighted on the last bottle "NO REFILLS REMAINING" but she seemed to think that just meant we would page the doc for more meds at 7pm on Christmas eve. Considering it was also something I'm not going to consider giving a few tablets to get her through until the prescriber gets around to sending a new script. Based on the past history of the customer I bet I'm going to be getting a call from my district manager about a complaint the person filed about my "rude service" otherwise known as I'm not paging the doctor for your stupidity, I'm not just going to give you a bunch of pills to make you go away, and I'm not going to keep the pharmacy open all night and come in on Christmas day to see if the doctor called/faxed something in. As I was closing up though I could hear her screaming in her cell phone at the answering service and the amount of curse words coming out of her, I don't think the doctor is going to be getting back anytime soon.
ReplyDelete"My name is Joy"
ReplyDeleteAwesome touch!
That really was her name. I couldn't have made that up if I tried.
ReplyDeleteTidings of comfort and joy ...
ReplyDeleteLove Joy :)
ReplyDeleteI bet she'd fit in well with Mary and Annie, should you ever need a pharm tech or PharmD (whichever she is).
That was the best laugh I've had all week! Thank you and happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteI like the name Amy Loid actually, was guessing as in amyloid basic protein (yes, a non scientist here). Have a good new year.
ReplyDeleteI think I work with her at the local pharmacy!!
ReplyDeleteI really don't get this system. Why is it the pharmacist calling you?
ReplyDeletePatient go to doctor, patient get prescription, patient go to phamacy, patient take medication, patient not die in terrible agony.
Or in this case, nursing home bozo.
Since I was on call for the Long-Term pharmacy I work at this weekend and Monday and Tuesday, I have to say that this does NOT surprise me at all. I even had a nurse who paged me at 6 am say that she would wait to page the MD because she didn't want to wake him up... LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm with anonymous 12/27/0621
ReplyDeleteWhy is it the pharmacy's job to get a refill. They have absolutely no control over the process - an agreement between patient and provider - yet get yelled at, screamed at, and veiled threats/demands for free meds when the process doesn't work (usually since the patient doesn't seem to get "no refills remain" means no refills remain).
The pharmacy ALWAYS gets yelled at for not having the correct refills waiting on the patient. No one takes responsiblity for themselves anymore. It's always someone else's job.
ReplyDeleteWadda I think?
ReplyDeleteWell, I think the pharmacist should have just refilled the prescription until December 27. It was only two more days and if the woman is in a nursing home anyway, she's going to be monitored. So the pharmacist should have solved the problem herself.
@cathiefromcanada
ReplyDeletelaws are different here in USA. It isn't exactly legal for a pharmacist to just do that. That would be considered prescribing and is outside of the scope of pharmacist practice. however, I have been known to give a 2 day supply for certain actually life sustaining meds (such as "will have seizure if doesn't take" not "will miss 1 cholesterol med" and never anything over the counter, so don't even ask!) IF the patient called it before they were out and doc hasn't gotten back yet(2-3 days), has a history with us, and is compliant. If you last filled a 3 month supply 5 months ago, you obviously haven't died from missing a day or two!
And I will tell them to call the Dr even though "my doctor doesn't want me to call about refills". Then maybe YOUR dr should get back to us about YOUR medication (notice: not MY Dr and MY medication).
can u tell this has been an issue lately?
For cathiefromcanada my guess was this is not the type of meds you can 'advance'. Generally this means narcotics or controlled. Totally illegal to give any out without an order. It's her license, her call.
ReplyDeleteJust another example of stellar nursing home care. Poor Ms Amy Loid. Poor Joy. Poor Dr G!
ReplyDelete