RPh on the Go’s Post

  “Do you want it fast or correct?” Bob calmly exclaimed at our pharmacy technician 👩🔧 The line was long for pick up at the pharmacy, me another pharmacist (Bob) was working to get them out as fast as we could. Well, at least I was. 😂 I had been a pharmacist for less than 2 years and my speed in getting prescriptions out quickly was something I prided myself on. But Bob was a more seasoned and experienced pharmacist 👨⚕️ He knew the importance of not rushing and how rushing could potentially cause an error. The line did not bother him. What a valuable lesson I was given that day and I continue to best practice. As a pharmacy consultant, I highly value the importance of doing things right the first time, not cutting corners or unnecessary rushing. I’ve seen where this can be costly, from audit recoupment to upset customers, all of which can affect your business. I want to help your organization meet its goals efficiently. Fast or correct? Both preferably but I’ll take correct over the 2 any day!! ✅ Experienced, Knowledgeable, and Collaborating for the success and growth of your pharmacy! How can I help you? P.S. -Bob is not his real name. Didn’t get his permission :) Happy Second Quarter Everyone! Dr. Deanna C. Smith, PharmD, CSP Pharmacy Consulting, Patient Advocate, ACHC Certified Consultant, Specialty at Retail, Home Infusion, Ambulatory Infusion Suite, Specialty Pharmacy.

National Pharmacy Week - Day 1: I became a pharmacist to make a difference in my community. My decision to join a PBM was based on a desire to empower and collaborate with independent pharmacists – building on their critical role in the community. Key to this work is enabling independent pharmacists to serve patients at the top of their license. This #PharmacyWeek I’m sharing my thoughts on the areas we plan to address over the coming months at @ExpressScripts. I welcome you to follow along. #Pharmacyweek #Pharmacistmonth

Need a hassle-free way to transfer your prescriptions? At Weller Pharmacy, our pharmacists streamline the process. We coordinate with your current pharmacy and take care of all the details. Visit Weller Pharmacy for a seamless transition and expert care. #HealthcareManagement #WellerPharmacy #CommunityPharmacy

The latest issue is here - learn more about our oustanding alumni and the exciting work being done by faculty and students in the USC College of Pharmacy.

NCPA Long-Term Care Division member tips for pharmacists, from pharmacists: 💡 Work ahead. How: Tim Fensky, chief pharmacy officer at Sullivan’s Pharmacy and Medical Supply, says that staff comes in at 7 a.m., though the pharmacy doesn’t open until 9 a.m. This time without any incoming phone calls has done wonders for their efficiency. Want more tips like this? Join the division today at https://ncpa.org/ltc. #NCPALTC #pharmacy

The Florida Board of Pharmacy is set to adopt amendments to its rule on registered pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratios, allowing a supervising pharmacist to determine the appropriate ratio. The current rule requires a 1:1 ratio unless otherwise authorized. The proposed rule removes activity-specific ratios and allows pharmacies to use a ratio greater than 1:1 if they comply with guidelines and the ratio is appropriate. Authored by Edward Rickert, Roger Morris RPh, JD, Susan Brichler Trujillo and Michael S. Elkins. #healthlaw #pharmacylaw #florida #hospitals #healthsystems https://lnkd.in/g-Mf4q8c

“The service is unsafe when no adequate training is done. For otitis media I only examined the ear of a fellow pharmacist sitting next to me on the training day! If that’s enough training to examine patient’s ears then I really must be a confused healthcare professional! I just feel that patients will be used as guinea pigs and by trial and error we will hopefully get there in the end! I personally do not think the level or the durations of face to face trainings are adequate by any company as we are all struggling for time! I work as a locum in supermarket pharmacies. Most of the time I am having to self check as there are no dispensers available or even if they are, I am told are not getting paid enough to dispense. Can we honestly think that under these circumstances, we can provide an efficient and safe service. We have always had the motto of “welfare of the patient” comes first and foremost by our regulatory bodies. Is this really not jeopardising patient safety. Supermarkets are open after hours and yet they are operated by just one pharmacist and not a single trained dispenser. Is it honestly feasible to be seeing and examining patients from 111 for PF plus carrying out the tasks of dispensing, checking , doing the walk in prescriptions (which normally peaks after about 5pm), do the queries over the phone, OTC queries when patients demand to speak to the pharmacist, provide service to our substance miss users, write up CDs given out ( normally a few) etc.Each stage of these steps takes time and I just cannot imagine it’s feasible to provide a safe and effective service when it comes to doing PF referrals on top of all these. Company I work for on a regular basis refuses to provide extra pay for the PF service provided. I have tried to negotiate the unfair rates of pay but it’s mostly rejected. I think we pharmacists are not trained adequately for PF and even if we are there is no support given at the time of performing the service of PF or at least this is what I have faced in supermarket pharmacies! I am being told to avoid such supermarkets to work in! How can you avoid when this problem resides in the majority of the stores and I’ve been told by colleagues they are also facing the same issue. I have been shouted at by patients from 111 when they have come in “to collect” their antibiotic or “to collect” their inhaler or “ to collect “ their emergency supplies of their medication!! Our colleagues at 111 do not realise or appreciate that giving the wrong message or information will end up in patient’s disappointment with our services and the break of their trust. I truly think this whole PF has not been thought through thoroughly and we will soon have a lot of complaints from patients for not receiving a service that is so well advertised but so poorly provided!” Bit of a long read but I think this feedback from the TPC PFS Survey sums up what a lot of Pharmacists are thinking. Link to survey: https://lnkd.in/e75eNkGv

Always good to have that reminder of the important impact pharmacy technician’s & pharmacy services in primary care can have … a key point is that our actions have positive impacts in their own right, we’re not just there to save time for another staff member in a different role.