Posted by Cam W. on March 23, 2000, at 22:58:46
To medlib, bigbertha, bob, Julie, Annie, Janice, Chris K., Janet R., Chris A., Judy, April A., Kim (T -I think), and allisonm (your posting was lost to cyberspace, but it was the thought that counted).
Congratulations guys, you made me look good again. Thank you so much!
medlib - "Ask a Pharmacist" raised a few eyebrows (I could hear the gears turning in some). Also, over the phone callbacks seemed to be well received. I think the importance was impressed upon them, but they would also like to meet and get to know the person they are serving. Your pharmacist story wasn't related (ran out of time, but it impressed me)
bigbertha - Your cheque is in the mail, so tell those guys to stop watching my house. None of the students wanted to work in a "pill factory". They would rather use their knowledge for the good of mankind (not for evil).
bob - Man, I'm sorry to say that they trashed you. Every last one of them would have called the doctor before giving you the prescriptions (okay - YOU could have probably talked some of them into filling the Ritalin and Nortriptyline). They are not taught about cocktails, especially the one's used off-label, as it would be considered unethical to use drugs for other than their indicated purposes (bless their naive little hearts). Your point on getting to know your customers was very well received, as was your obsevations on how to keep a customer.
Annie - The students seemed to agree with you that a private area to talk about prescriptions was important. In Alberta, every pharmacy is supposed to (by law) have a private counseling area. They agreed that they would call the doc before filling a potentially serious drug interaction.
Janice - No wonder you didn't want to tell me you were originally from T.O. Do you actually think I would stoop as low as make a joke (centre of the universe) about Canada's largest, most progressive (New York Jr.) city? I did impress upon them your ideas about being discreet about saying the name of your medication out loud. I too think that this is important. Also, your examples of good service were impressed upon them.
Chris K. - The privacy issue was well received. Private counseling areas are manditory in Alberta. Also, they felt that getting to know their customers was important.
Janet R. - Yes, they agreed that sensitive issues can be dealt with easier over the phone, but they would still like to get to know you as a person. They really didn't have an opinion on body language.
Chris A. - These guys seemed so gung-ho that they would have stopped you on the subway (LRT here) to talk, not just haven taken the initiative in the pharmacy. Most of my talk centered on stigma. Also, I had an article published in Pharmacy Practice journal (March, 2000 - p.18) entitled "Attack the Stigma of Mental Illness."
Judy - You story on your pharmacist's forethought in not filling your full prescription really touched a nerve with them (and me).
April A. - They thought that face-to-face contact was important, but that many personal questions could be handled over the phone. They thought that you should find a caring pharmacist that you feel comfortable with.
Kim - The students thought that it is important that before filling prescriptions that interact, that the doctor be called. They did shake their heads at the Temazepam story, though.
Okay, so I didn't get a total concensus of all 103 students, but random samplings during class and the follow-up comments after class were as I have described above.
Thank you everyone. Like I has said before -You people are fantastic. I have learned more in the few months I have been here than in the last 16 years as a pharmacist. Very sincerely yours - Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:27990
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000321/msgs/27990.html