A lady was waiting for her script to be filled but she was in a hurry so took her script and left.
On the way out, our security guard stops her as she had a plastic bag with 3 boxes of Panadol and Codral Cold & Flu in it. She said she bought it from another pharmacy but couldn't produce a proof of purchase.
She: This is ridiculous! I'm in a hurry and now you won't let me leave because I bought something from another pharmacy!
Me: Yes sorry but you need to provide a proof of purchase. If you can't then I'll have to check the security cameras for you to find out if you walked in with those goods.
She: I'm in a hurry! I don't have time for this!
Me: You need to provide a proof of purchase.
She: I can! You just have to come with me to the other pharmacy and they will show you! Do you even sell this?!?!? Have you checked?!?!??
Me: Of course we sell this. We're a pharmacy. No I'm not gonna go to another pharmacy for you. I can either check the cameras for you, if not then we will have to call the police.
She: Fine check it check it! This is ridiculous.
So I check the cameras, yes she did come in with the goods.
Me: Ok I saw the camera. That's fine, you may leave now.
She: Give those back to me!
Me: Next time, as a tip for you, you must have a receipt if you are buying things from another pharmacy. Otherwise how are we suppose to know?
She storms out and then curses the security guard that he'll get a divorce because of what he did to her. Omg, its his job to check bags! Otherwise what's the point. What did she expect us to do? Just listen to her story and then let her walk out. That's dumb!
Saturday, 28 December 2013
Medicare no big deal
This lady holding a child in her arms interrupts me whilst i'm serving another customer.
Mother: Excuse me, I've got a script to be filled.
Me: Yes, you'll need to take it in at the prescriptions in counter overthere.
Mother: Yeh but there's noone there.
Me: Someone will come and assist you when they are free.
So I end up dispensing the script for the child. Upon entering the name, the child's name did not pop up on our system. New patient. So I ask the mother, who was holding the child, for a Medicare card as her name was not on the system.
Mother: (gave me a dirty) Look I don't know what the big deal is, you should have all the details on the system.
Me: The deal is, her name is not on the system, hence why I need a Medicare card.
Mother: Omg, all the details are on the prescription.
Me: No its not. The doctor only wrote the name. There's no Medicare or Address either.
Mother: Well my daughter's sick and we've been waiting for a long time.
Me: Well, most people who walk into our pharmacy are sick but everyone still patiently waits. (me smirks)
She says nothing. She later decides to take a jab at my other workmates. An item didn't scan at the counter so had to ask for a price check.
Mother: OMG, now i'm gonna wait a WHOLE YEAR for you people to check the price.
Assistant comes back and overhears her: That was $4.90 and no it did not take a year! (walks off)
Lady purchases for items and leaves.
What is wrong with this lady?
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Doctor asks me a random question if I sell ear drops
A received a call from the doctor.
First thing he asks me: "Do you have ear drops?"
Me: Which one are you after?
Him: What do you have?
Me: I've got many. Depends on what condition you're after. Antibiotic, ear wax, painful ear???
Him: Do you have Sofradex?
Me: Ok so you're after an antibiotic ear drop. No I don't have Sofradex as its out of stock from the manufacturer. I've got Otocomb ear drops if you want something similar.
That's just like calling me and asking do I sell tablets. Yes we do - we're a chemist - but depends on what you want.
No need to tell me your lifestory. My answer is no.
When you ask the store if we keep a certain product, and we say no, that means no.
A lady came into the pharmacy to ask for a long cotton swab, I tell her I don't have the long one, I've only got the normal short ones.
Me: No sorry we don't have these long ones. I've got the normal shorter cotton bud ones if you like.
She: Yeh you know, my husband had a stroke, and he needs to use this everyday to clean his mouth.
I look at her...and thought: "yeh and your point is??"
Me: Ok.
She: So do you have it? My husband really needs it.
Me: I've already told you. We don't have these ones, we've got the normal short ones.
She: Are you sure? Can you look for me?
Me: Yes I'm sure what I sell in our pharmacy....
She: My husband very old, and........
I just switched off. Her purpose was to buy that long cotton bud and I've told her we don't sell it. Now why would telling me the story of your husband and why he needs it, change my answer from no to yes?
I don't get it.
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Medicare should audit doctors for over-prescribing quantities
Doctor's wasting our taxpayers money by over-prescribing. There's no need to prescribe max quantity every single time and there is an option on the system to change quantity.
- prescribing 50 tabs of Abbocillin tablets for a 2 day treatment. All they need is 8 tablets!
- prescribing 2 bottles x 150ml (total 300ml) of Ventolin Syrup for a baby who's only taking 0.5ml three times a day for 3 days...... one bottle is more than enough
Such a waste of resources and money. *shakes head*
- prescribing 50 tabs of Abbocillin tablets for a 2 day treatment. All they need is 8 tablets!
- prescribing 2 bottles x 150ml (total 300ml) of Ventolin Syrup for a baby who's only taking 0.5ml three times a day for 3 days...... one bottle is more than enough
Such a waste of resources and money. *shakes head*
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Viagra man wants assistance with condoms
A middle aged man came in with a script for Viagra 50mg. When I handed him the medicine, he said: "I also need a packet of condoms."
Me: "Oh yes, its just in the first aisle on your right."
Him: "Can you please show me? Coz I don't know which one to get."
Okkkk, well being the professional I am, I led him to that section.
Me: There a lot of different types, here they are. Different sizes, different flavours.
Him: Yeh I just need a small one.
Me thinks small packet or small size? But if its small size, i don't want to rub it in.
Me: Hmmm, did you just want to go for the standard size like this Ansell one?
He picks up the Ansell RIBBED and asks me: "What's this one?"
I have no idea. I haven't used one before or seen one. Read the packet ..... me: "Oh its just not smooth. Its got bumps on it."
He says: "Ahhh ok I'll get this one."
Doesn't help when you're a female.........
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Unprofessional nurse complaining about vaccines Havrix & Typhim
A nurse from a local medical centre calls the pharmacy to complain that our pharmacy didn't tell a patient to keep their vaccines in the fridge. The vaccines (Havrix Junior and Typhim) were dispensed by a colleague pharmacist yesterday. So I check with my colleague to see if they informed the patient to keep the vaccines in the fridge:
Pharmacist: Yes. Coz I asked him if he was going to the see the doctor straight away and he said no, his seeing the doctor the next day. So I told him to keep it in the fridge until he sees the doctor.
Me: Did you put a fridge sticker on the vaccine?
Pharmacist: Yes definitely.
Good. I asked the nurse is the fridge sticker on the vaccine. She says yes. I informed her that I spoke to my colleague who served the customer and they said they informed them to keep it in the fridge until they see the doctor.
Nurse: Well the customer says she didn't.
Me: The pharmacist asked him if he was seeing the doctor straight away and he said no. So she told him to keep it in the fridge. There's no point of asking when he was gonna see the doctor if she wasn't gonna tell him how to store it.
Nurse: Well maybe there was a language barrier? The customer doesn't understand English and you tell him to keep it in the fridge. His not gonna understand that.
Me: The customer is Arabic right?
Nurse: Yes.
Me: Well we've got many staff here who speaks Arabic. Any one of them could've translated it for him. If he didn't understand, he could've said he didn't understand. But he didn't say anything, he never asked for translation, and he seemed to understand some basic simple English. He probably just forgot when he got home.
Nurse: What about the fridge back and cool pack? He lives 20min away. You should've given him a fridge bag. The fact that you didn't - don't you think that's a big unprofessional.
Me: No fridge bag and a cool pack is not a legal requirement. Even if we did supply him a fridge bag, his not going to keep it in the fridge anyway. 24 hours later, it would be deemed unusable anyway so it makes no difference fridge bag or not.
Nurse: Look I don't know but your pharmacy is responsible for this. The patient is not going to spend another $100 to get these vaccines when its your fault.
Me: I disagree with that. I feel that the pharmacist did all she can on her part - informed him to keep it in the fridge and there's also a fridge sticker. Now if the customer goes home and doesn't do as we tell them to do, well that's beyond my control.
Nurse: The customer is always right.
Me: Now you're being unreasonable. From what I can see, the customer probably just forgot but please do not shift the responsibility to us coz we did every right on our end.
Nurse: Well I think you are responsible and I will be making an official complaint.
Me: Feel free to do that. You can complain directly to the Pharmacy Board. It doesn't seem we can resolve this today so let them decide. I am happy to supply you with their number if you want.
Nurse: Who are you anyway?
Me: On the pharmacist on duty today. If you like, you can speak to the Pharmacy Manager.
Transferred the call to the Pharmacy Manager who agreed with what I said and told her to get lost and that if the patient wants, we can sell them a second box for cost price. But if you want it for free, then she's dreaming.
Afternoon comes, the customer comes in with the vaccines and speaks to my boss. My boss told him the nurse knows nothing and that she's giving him all these wrong information. Customer said the pharmacist should have EMPHASISED to him to keep in the fridge. My boss' comeback which I think is perfect was basically: "The only thing she could've done better was to go home with you and put it in the fridge for you." LOL .........
We ended up giving the customer a discount (out of good faith) for the second box but certainly not free.
And that nurse was such an idiot. Is she really a registered nurse? Or is she some random lady that sticks needles in people? I can't comprehend how can she speak like that with no sense of judgement. So unprofessional and saying 'the customer is always right." I'm a health care professional, a pharmacist, not a random grocery seller at the markets. We have protocol and we've followed protocol.
If her patient goes home and doesn't take their medications, is she the one responsible for that?
Just go back to nursing school dude and don't step into the way we work. Trouble maker. I should be the one making the complaint to the Nursing Board about her unprofessionalism and giving wrong information the patient.
Pharmacist: Yes. Coz I asked him if he was going to the see the doctor straight away and he said no, his seeing the doctor the next day. So I told him to keep it in the fridge until he sees the doctor.
Me: Did you put a fridge sticker on the vaccine?
Pharmacist: Yes definitely.
Good. I asked the nurse is the fridge sticker on the vaccine. She says yes. I informed her that I spoke to my colleague who served the customer and they said they informed them to keep it in the fridge until they see the doctor.
Nurse: Well the customer says she didn't.
Me: The pharmacist asked him if he was seeing the doctor straight away and he said no. So she told him to keep it in the fridge. There's no point of asking when he was gonna see the doctor if she wasn't gonna tell him how to store it.
Nurse: Well maybe there was a language barrier? The customer doesn't understand English and you tell him to keep it in the fridge. His not gonna understand that.
Me: The customer is Arabic right?
Nurse: Yes.
Me: Well we've got many staff here who speaks Arabic. Any one of them could've translated it for him. If he didn't understand, he could've said he didn't understand. But he didn't say anything, he never asked for translation, and he seemed to understand some basic simple English. He probably just forgot when he got home.
Nurse: What about the fridge back and cool pack? He lives 20min away. You should've given him a fridge bag. The fact that you didn't - don't you think that's a big unprofessional.
Me: No fridge bag and a cool pack is not a legal requirement. Even if we did supply him a fridge bag, his not going to keep it in the fridge anyway. 24 hours later, it would be deemed unusable anyway so it makes no difference fridge bag or not.
Nurse: Look I don't know but your pharmacy is responsible for this. The patient is not going to spend another $100 to get these vaccines when its your fault.
Me: I disagree with that. I feel that the pharmacist did all she can on her part - informed him to keep it in the fridge and there's also a fridge sticker. Now if the customer goes home and doesn't do as we tell them to do, well that's beyond my control.
Nurse: The customer is always right.
Me: Now you're being unreasonable. From what I can see, the customer probably just forgot but please do not shift the responsibility to us coz we did every right on our end.
Nurse: Well I think you are responsible and I will be making an official complaint.
Me: Feel free to do that. You can complain directly to the Pharmacy Board. It doesn't seem we can resolve this today so let them decide. I am happy to supply you with their number if you want.
Nurse: Who are you anyway?
Me: On the pharmacist on duty today. If you like, you can speak to the Pharmacy Manager.
Transferred the call to the Pharmacy Manager who agreed with what I said and told her to get lost and that if the patient wants, we can sell them a second box for cost price. But if you want it for free, then she's dreaming.
Afternoon comes, the customer comes in with the vaccines and speaks to my boss. My boss told him the nurse knows nothing and that she's giving him all these wrong information. Customer said the pharmacist should have EMPHASISED to him to keep in the fridge. My boss' comeback which I think is perfect was basically: "The only thing she could've done better was to go home with you and put it in the fridge for you." LOL .........
We ended up giving the customer a discount (out of good faith) for the second box but certainly not free.
And that nurse was such an idiot. Is she really a registered nurse? Or is she some random lady that sticks needles in people? I can't comprehend how can she speak like that with no sense of judgement. So unprofessional and saying 'the customer is always right." I'm a health care professional, a pharmacist, not a random grocery seller at the markets. We have protocol and we've followed protocol.
If her patient goes home and doesn't take their medications, is she the one responsible for that?
Just go back to nursing school dude and don't step into the way we work. Trouble maker. I should be the one making the complaint to the Nursing Board about her unprofessionalism and giving wrong information the patient.
Monday, 18 November 2013
Creams are not for eating
Question of the day:
Lady: What's this Lyclear?
Assistant: Yes its a cream that you apply to your whole body to help treat scabies or body lice.
Lady: So how do I use it - do I just apply it to the body?
Answer:
a) apply cream to body
b) squeeze cream into mouth and swallow
Such a difficult question, who can answer this?
Lady: What's this Lyclear?
Assistant: Yes its a cream that you apply to your whole body to help treat scabies or body lice.
Lady: So how do I use it - do I just apply it to the body?
Answer:
a) apply cream to body
b) squeeze cream into mouth and swallow
Such a difficult question, who can answer this?
Saturday, 16 November 2013
Zyrtec lady not happy with price
People should get over paying for non-pbs items. A young lady with a young kid comes in with a few scripts - some prescription items, some over the counter items.
When it came to payment, she purchased Celestone M Cream + Predmix + Zyrtec syrup. Total came down to $36 or something.
She gives me a dirty and says: "Is this price correct? Why so expensive?"
Me: Yes its correct. That's coz the Zyrtec is not covered on your health care card.
She: Yeh I've got a health care card. It should be covered.
Me: No its not covered. Not everything you buy in the chemist is covered under Medicare.
She rolls her eyes and frustrated says: "Fine."
Why be so stuck up for? Its not covered. Get a grip.
You've got a health care card which I think IMO she doesn't deserve it. She doesn't appreciate she gets some discounts already. Sometimes I just want to pat her shoulder and say: "Its alright. $18 is affordable and not much. Calm down and relax. You have no one to blame but yourself when you get sick so its money that you can afford to spend."
And its not my fault its not covered on Medicare so stop giving me those dirty looks - its got nothing to do with me.
When it came to payment, she purchased Celestone M Cream + Predmix + Zyrtec syrup. Total came down to $36 or something.
She gives me a dirty and says: "Is this price correct? Why so expensive?"
Me: Yes its correct. That's coz the Zyrtec is not covered on your health care card.
She: Yeh I've got a health care card. It should be covered.
Me: No its not covered. Not everything you buy in the chemist is covered under Medicare.
She rolls her eyes and frustrated says: "Fine."
Why be so stuck up for? Its not covered. Get a grip.
You've got a health care card which I think IMO she doesn't deserve it. She doesn't appreciate she gets some discounts already. Sometimes I just want to pat her shoulder and say: "Its alright. $18 is affordable and not much. Calm down and relax. You have no one to blame but yourself when you get sick so its money that you can afford to spend."
And its not my fault its not covered on Medicare so stop giving me those dirty looks - its got nothing to do with me.
Courtesy does not exist in their vocabulary
People these days should learn some basic social etiquette. It was busy and I was serving a customer at the counter. An Asian lady wanted to speak to me so she waited patiently behind that customer until I was finished. Now a Turkish lady comes after and decides to stand right NEXT to the customer I'm serving. Totally no respect of privacy at all. I could feel from the corner of my eye, she was looking at me - waiting for me to make eye contact. I never make eye contact with people I don't want to serve yet. Coz once I make eye contact, they will open their mouth and ask for assistance. By not giving eye contact, you don't give them a chance to ask you stuff which is what I want.
Anyway, when I was finished with the first customer. I gave eye contact to the patiently waiting Asian lady and said 'Can I help you?'
The Turkish lady which was standing at the counter gets frustrated and yells at me saying: "I've been waiting here for a long time!!"
Me: Yes but this lady here has been waiting for a very long time too. She came before you.
Turk lady: No I was here first!
Me: No. She was here first. She was waiting in line over here.
Turk lady continues to wait all grumpy.
I just shook my head. Honestly, just coz you barged in front of everyone and stuck your fat self at the counter, doesn't mean your first. I might be busy but I see who's waiting around so I know who to serve next. Be a little bit more courteous and wait in line.
Anyway, when I was finished with the first customer. I gave eye contact to the patiently waiting Asian lady and said 'Can I help you?'
The Turkish lady which was standing at the counter gets frustrated and yells at me saying: "I've been waiting here for a long time!!"
Me: Yes but this lady here has been waiting for a very long time too. She came before you.
Turk lady: No I was here first!
Me: No. She was here first. She was waiting in line over here.
Turk lady continues to wait all grumpy.
I just shook my head. Honestly, just coz you barged in front of everyone and stuck your fat self at the counter, doesn't mean your first. I might be busy but I see who's waiting around so I know who to serve next. Be a little bit more courteous and wait in line.
Why can't I get medications for free?
A man comes into the our pharmacy for the first time. He says he usually gets his medications for free from his usual chemist. I asked him if he has his Safetynet Card on him. He goes his chemist did not give him any cards and all he knows is he gets it for free.
Fine. So I call his local chemist and ask them for the safetynet number. The chemist says he hasn't reached the safetynet yet. I called Medicare Australia for the SN number. They said they have none on record.
So I tell the customer I called his chemist and they said there is no number.
He gets angry and asks me: "Why do I get it for free then?"
Me: I dunno. Maybe you have to ask that chemist why.
Him: Because I go there all the time and I saw your chemist and its big so I wanted to get my medicines here. But you're not giving it to me for free so how can I come here next time?
Me: (me thinks are you trying to threaten me to give you free meds so i can win you over??) Well I've tried to help you by calling that chemist and Medicare Australia, they said you don't have a safetynet number. Without that number I can't give you medications for free.
Him: Why can the other chemist to me for free but you can't?
Me: I don't know know why. You have to go and ask that chemist why. I don't know the answer. That card entitles you to get medications for free at OTHER pharmacies. Now I don't know why your chemist didn't you a card. I even called them and they said you don't have one. If you have any questions, I think you should go and ask them why. Because honestly, I don't know the answer to your question.
And he kept on repeating the question WHY WHY WHY......
Why did you have to come into our pharmacy?
OMG
Fine. So I call his local chemist and ask them for the safetynet number. The chemist says he hasn't reached the safetynet yet. I called Medicare Australia for the SN number. They said they have none on record.
So I tell the customer I called his chemist and they said there is no number.
He gets angry and asks me: "Why do I get it for free then?"
Me: I dunno. Maybe you have to ask that chemist why.
Him: Because I go there all the time and I saw your chemist and its big so I wanted to get my medicines here. But you're not giving it to me for free so how can I come here next time?
Me: (me thinks are you trying to threaten me to give you free meds so i can win you over??) Well I've tried to help you by calling that chemist and Medicare Australia, they said you don't have a safetynet number. Without that number I can't give you medications for free.
Him: Why can the other chemist to me for free but you can't?
Me: I don't know know why. You have to go and ask that chemist why. I don't know the answer. That card entitles you to get medications for free at OTHER pharmacies. Now I don't know why your chemist didn't you a card. I even called them and they said you don't have one. If you have any questions, I think you should go and ask them why. Because honestly, I don't know the answer to your question.
And he kept on repeating the question WHY WHY WHY......
Why did you have to come into our pharmacy?
OMG
Adult first time taking a syrup?
A lady comes in with a script for E-mycin Syrup for her child and Codeine Linctus for herself. Both syrups. After I dispensed it, I informed her how many MLs to take of each.
She looks at me blankly and says: How do I measure 3ml?
Me: Do you have a syringe or measuring cup at home?
She: No I don't.
Me: I'll give you a syringe then. 3ml is here (points to the 3ml increment).
She: How do I measure 5ml for the Codeine Linctus?
Me thinks *what do you mean how?? Just with a measuring cup. Who DOESN'T have a measuring cup at home???!!!
Don't know why people act noob.
She's like a young mother as well with a child. I mean, fair enough, it could be the first time the child is taking a syrup and you don't know how to measure, but surely as a child, SHE herself must've taken some sort of syrup in the past. As if you don't know how to measure MLs properly.
She looks at me blankly and says: How do I measure 3ml?
Me: Do you have a syringe or measuring cup at home?
She: No I don't.
Me: I'll give you a syringe then. 3ml is here (points to the 3ml increment).
She: How do I measure 5ml for the Codeine Linctus?
Me thinks *what do you mean how?? Just with a measuring cup. Who DOESN'T have a measuring cup at home???!!!
Don't know why people act noob.
She's like a young mother as well with a child. I mean, fair enough, it could be the first time the child is taking a syrup and you don't know how to measure, but surely as a child, SHE herself must've taken some sort of syrup in the past. As if you don't know how to measure MLs properly.
Saturday, 2 November 2013
We don't sell body parts here
A lady walks into the pharmacy with a piece of paper written by her doctor. All it said on it was: bunion.
She said she would like to buy it.
I'm like this is not a product, its a body part.
She: How much is it?
Me: Its not a product, its a body part.
She: Do you have it?
Me: Its a body part. We don't sell body parts here.
She: I don't know. The doctor wrote that for me.
Me: You're doctor wrote down the name of the problem you have. Let me draw you a picture.
I draw a foot. Point to the bump on the toe.
Me: See this? This is a bunion.
She: Yeh I know. But I want to buy this. Do you have?
Me: No. Don't have products for it either.
------
How many times do I have to explain myself ? And doctors never write clearly what they want. I don't know if the doctor explained that it can only be fixed by surgery and this is the name of your condition. Or go to the chemist and ask them to give you something for bunions.
There are cushions and stuff but that only makes it a bit more bearable but really you can't fix it.
Can't the dr simply write bunion cushions or something if that's what they want?
She said she would like to buy it.
I'm like this is not a product, its a body part.
She: How much is it?
Me: Its not a product, its a body part.
She: Do you have it?
Me: Its a body part. We don't sell body parts here.
She: I don't know. The doctor wrote that for me.
Me: You're doctor wrote down the name of the problem you have. Let me draw you a picture.
I draw a foot. Point to the bump on the toe.
Me: See this? This is a bunion.
She: Yeh I know. But I want to buy this. Do you have?
Me: No. Don't have products for it either.
------
How many times do I have to explain myself ? And doctors never write clearly what they want. I don't know if the doctor explained that it can only be fixed by surgery and this is the name of your condition. Or go to the chemist and ask them to give you something for bunions.
There are cushions and stuff but that only makes it a bit more bearable but really you can't fix it.
Can't the dr simply write bunion cushions or something if that's what they want?
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
No Justice of Peace here and no one wants to certify documents
Hate people coming into the pharmacy asking for a Justice of Peace (JP) or pharmacist to certify photocopies.
People need to understand it is OUR choice to certify or sign your documents. We are not obliged to sign anything. Yes I'm authorised to do it, but sometimes I don't want to do it coz its a waste of time, or I'm busy or I'm simply in a bad mood.
When you come in with a stack of photocopies, I will most likely say no. Because I'm not gonna spend the next 10-15min signing my name FOR FREE when I can be dispensing scripts or provide a customer with medical advice coz that's business. Certifying documents is not business. Its volunteer work.
Another person came in today at the most busiest time and asked me to certify his documents.
Me: No sorry can't do it. I'm really busy at the moment.
Him: Please. Its very important. You just have to certify the documents.
Me: No I can't. I'm busy. Maybe try another pharmacy.
He gives me a dirty, shakes his head and walks off grumpy.
Why be grumpy for? He was dumb to walk into our pharmacy and asking that. There are about 10 different pharmacies in our area and he decides to walk into the most busiest pharmacy and expecting someone to certify. Come on be realistic please! Take your 'important documents' to a quiet pharmacy and get them to sign it, you'll get it straight away. Why make your life so difficult?
And don't be grumpy at me, I can say no you know! Its not like you're gonna be paying me to do it! If you pay me - I might consider it. But yeh, not worth my time.
People need to understand it is OUR choice to certify or sign your documents. We are not obliged to sign anything. Yes I'm authorised to do it, but sometimes I don't want to do it coz its a waste of time, or I'm busy or I'm simply in a bad mood.
When you come in with a stack of photocopies, I will most likely say no. Because I'm not gonna spend the next 10-15min signing my name FOR FREE when I can be dispensing scripts or provide a customer with medical advice coz that's business. Certifying documents is not business. Its volunteer work.
Another person came in today at the most busiest time and asked me to certify his documents.
Me: No sorry can't do it. I'm really busy at the moment.
Him: Please. Its very important. You just have to certify the documents.
Me: No I can't. I'm busy. Maybe try another pharmacy.
He gives me a dirty, shakes his head and walks off grumpy.
Why be grumpy for? He was dumb to walk into our pharmacy and asking that. There are about 10 different pharmacies in our area and he decides to walk into the most busiest pharmacy and expecting someone to certify. Come on be realistic please! Take your 'important documents' to a quiet pharmacy and get them to sign it, you'll get it straight away. Why make your life so difficult?
And don't be grumpy at me, I can say no you know! Its not like you're gonna be paying me to do it! If you pay me - I might consider it. But yeh, not worth my time.
Don't pay for something you don't like
Our pharmacy deals with generics post-dispensing. As in we inform the customer about generics after we've dispensed it. If they want to the original brand, they can tell us when they hand the script in or after we dispense it.
We did this with an antibiotic. Dispensed another brand, asked the customer if it was ok.
Him: You dispensed it already. I'll take it but next time you should ask me first.
And angrily walks away.
Why would you walk away with a brand you don't want and then pay for it?
If you didn't like it, just tell us and we will change the brand back. Don't make it sound like we forced this upon you and get all upset and then go to the counter and pay for it. After all its your money. If a restaurant gave me a latte instead of a mocha I ordered, I'm not gonna pay for it. I'm gonna ask them to give me my mocha and then I'm gonna pay for it.
He could've said no I don't want this brand. Simple as that. No need to make a big massive speech about RESPECT.
Myth: Man thinks suntanning lotion helps with his Vitamin D deficiency.
A regular fat man wants my advice on Vitamin D supplements.
He says his got a vitamin d deficiency and his already taking supplement tablets for it. He wants me to recommend him a lotion that will make his skin brown coz he wants to stay in the sun a bit so he can get vitamin D.
I thought he meant sunscreen to protect himself when he goes out into the sun. No. He actually wanted a suntanning lotion to make his skin brown.
Me: Suntanning lotion does not increase you vitamin d levels.
Him: Oh we use this overseas. I'm thinking of putting it all over my skin so when i go out into the sun, my skin will go darker.
Me: You know what these suntanning lotions are for? Its for people who want to improve their appearance coz they are too pale and they want to become a bit more darker so it looks nicer. You are a full grown man, and you are already tanned, I don't think these products are for you.
Him: Oh how I can get vitamin D then if I don't go dark?
Me: You can't see vitamin D. Dark skin does not mean you got lots of vitamin D. Plus the sun itself is too low to increase your vitamin D levels if you have a deficiency. Better to use tablets coz its got more vitamin D than the sun. And only a blood test can tell you if you have a deficiency - not the color of your skin.
Him: Oh I see, thanks for your help.
He says his got a vitamin d deficiency and his already taking supplement tablets for it. He wants me to recommend him a lotion that will make his skin brown coz he wants to stay in the sun a bit so he can get vitamin D.
I thought he meant sunscreen to protect himself when he goes out into the sun. No. He actually wanted a suntanning lotion to make his skin brown.
Me: Suntanning lotion does not increase you vitamin d levels.
Him: Oh we use this overseas. I'm thinking of putting it all over my skin so when i go out into the sun, my skin will go darker.
Me: You know what these suntanning lotions are for? Its for people who want to improve their appearance coz they are too pale and they want to become a bit more darker so it looks nicer. You are a full grown man, and you are already tanned, I don't think these products are for you.
Him: Oh how I can get vitamin D then if I don't go dark?
Me: You can't see vitamin D. Dark skin does not mean you got lots of vitamin D. Plus the sun itself is too low to increase your vitamin D levels if you have a deficiency. Better to use tablets coz its got more vitamin D than the sun. And only a blood test can tell you if you have a deficiency - not the color of your skin.
Him: Oh I see, thanks for your help.
Pantoprazole brand price-match
A man comes into the pharmacy with a packet of Salpraz tablets which he bought from us yesterday which we charged him $15. He shows me an old packet of the same tablets (Pantoprazole Sandoz) he got before from a different pharmacy and he got that for $10.
Him: Ok I bought this yesterday. Why did you charge me $15?
Me: Coz that's our price?
Him: This is the one I got from another pharmacy and its $10.
Me: Yes they are the same tablets but different brands. We don't keep the Sandoz brand, instead we keep the Alphapharm brand which is the brand I gave you.
Him: Are both of these generics?
Me: Yes both of them are generics. There are many generics on the market.
Him: Why is there a price difference? You're one should also be $10.
Me: No why should it be. They're different brands made by different companies.
Him: But you said they are the same so price should be the same.
Me: Same ingredient different companies. Look here. Sandoz brand is Made in Turkey. Alphapharm brand is Made in Spain. Quality may be a bit better and/or import tax could be different because they are made in different countries (total BS but anyway....)
Him: So what? Quality should be the same regardless of countries.
Me: Quality control is different, labour costs are different, tax is different.....They're different brands, so of course the prices are gonna be different.
Him: Fine. Why did you give me this brand? You should've told me if you didn't have this brand I take.
Me: I did. I showed you the box and you said it was ok.
Him: I went home and saw my old box it was different.
Me: Well yesterday when I told you, you accepted it and went and bought it. You just decided to change your mind when you got home. But I did tell you.
Him: Well I want the Sandoz brand.
Me: We don't keep the Sandoz brand. Since we don't have the brand you want, would you like me to cancel this prescription and give your money back.
Him: Why?
Me: Because you want the Sandoz brand, and since I can't provide the brand you want, I'll cancel it and give you a refund.
Him: No no no .... give me the Salpraz back.
Me: Are you sure? If you don't want it, I'm more than happy to cancel it for you.
Him: No give it back to me.
I hand him back the Salpraz. He angrily snatches it off me and says: I'm not coming back to this pharmacy again. I don't like the service here.
And walks out.
LOL..... nothing wrong with the service here. You just not happy with the price.
He got so cut when I offered to cancel his script and give him a refund!!! It's like I don't even care or want to do his business. Didn't even try to bargain with him. He thinks his kingsh*t coz he's a customer..... Seriously, I can price match if its the same brand but come on, its a different brand - how can you compare?
Him: Ok I bought this yesterday. Why did you charge me $15?
Me: Coz that's our price?
Him: This is the one I got from another pharmacy and its $10.
Me: Yes they are the same tablets but different brands. We don't keep the Sandoz brand, instead we keep the Alphapharm brand which is the brand I gave you.
Him: Are both of these generics?
Me: Yes both of them are generics. There are many generics on the market.
Him: Why is there a price difference? You're one should also be $10.
Me: No why should it be. They're different brands made by different companies.
Him: But you said they are the same so price should be the same.
Me: Same ingredient different companies. Look here. Sandoz brand is Made in Turkey. Alphapharm brand is Made in Spain. Quality may be a bit better and/or import tax could be different because they are made in different countries (total BS but anyway....)
Him: So what? Quality should be the same regardless of countries.
Me: Quality control is different, labour costs are different, tax is different.....They're different brands, so of course the prices are gonna be different.
Him: Fine. Why did you give me this brand? You should've told me if you didn't have this brand I take.
Me: I did. I showed you the box and you said it was ok.
Him: I went home and saw my old box it was different.
Me: Well yesterday when I told you, you accepted it and went and bought it. You just decided to change your mind when you got home. But I did tell you.
Him: Well I want the Sandoz brand.
Me: We don't keep the Sandoz brand. Since we don't have the brand you want, would you like me to cancel this prescription and give your money back.
Him: Why?
Me: Because you want the Sandoz brand, and since I can't provide the brand you want, I'll cancel it and give you a refund.
Him: No no no .... give me the Salpraz back.
Me: Are you sure? If you don't want it, I'm more than happy to cancel it for you.
Him: No give it back to me.
I hand him back the Salpraz. He angrily snatches it off me and says: I'm not coming back to this pharmacy again. I don't like the service here.
And walks out.
LOL..... nothing wrong with the service here. You just not happy with the price.
He got so cut when I offered to cancel his script and give him a refund!!! It's like I don't even care or want to do his business. Didn't even try to bargain with him. He thinks his kingsh*t coz he's a customer..... Seriously, I can price match if its the same brand but come on, its a different brand - how can you compare?
Work experience kids
I feel kids these days lack basic social etiquette. But maybe its the area I'm working in? Dunno, but don't want to sound racist but from what I've seen in my pharmacy these days, makes me question that.
A few school girls were hovered around the script counter playing with the pens so I walk up to them and ask them if they need any help.
One the girls, still holding that pen they were playing with, and slouched at the counter, casually asks me: "can we do work experience here?"
Me (gives them a dirty): You got to speak to the manager and his not here today.
She: Oh ok then. Thanks (and walks off)
Now I don't know if their career adviser from their crappy high school taught them how to speak properly but when I had to look for work experience in year 10, I was told to this:
a) ask to speak to the manager or boss first
b) introduce yourself: what school you are from, and state purpose (i.e. year 10 work experience)
c) if available: tell them how long you need to be working there for
d) have introductory letters from the school ready
e) be polite and well-mannered.
Didn't see any of that from the kids today. First they didn't even introduce themselves. "Hi I'm from XXXX high school and I was wondering if there's availability for work experience." Who are they? I'm not gonna let some random kids come into the store and muck around and touch the money.
And when you are talking to someone asking for a favour (yes work experience is a favour), please do not slouch and play with our pens. Its very rude.
And don't come in with a group of friends who talk so loud. We will not kidnap you so there's no need to bring in a whole gang.
If they can't even do this properly, I don't know how they can survive in the real world when they grow older. Probably don't even know what a resume looks like! (PS. Should read some of my earlier posts. One hand-wrote their resume in pencil and another told us to PHOTOCOPY their resume and give back the original.) WTH
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Anti-generics lady thinks she gets it for $5.90
I knew this lady was anti-generics but I still asked her.
Script was Keflex Syrup 250mg. Her health care card was not working. I told her the price before I dispensed it. She casually said ok.
After I dispense it, and came to swipe her card, (It was like $22), she says: "I always used to pay $5.90 for this."
Me thinks why is she telling me this. You accepted the price of $22 because you think you're all so good and that you don't take generics, and now you whinge about the price.
You know what I said:
Well that's the concession price and for the generic.
a) you don't have a valid health care card
b) you didn't want generics
So $5.90 does not apply to you.
She: Well I don't know. That's the price that I used to pay.
Me: You're probably thinking of something else. Anyway, please key in your pin number and press enter .... thanks.
Script was Keflex Syrup 250mg. Her health care card was not working. I told her the price before I dispensed it. She casually said ok.
After I dispense it, and came to swipe her card, (It was like $22), she says: "I always used to pay $5.90 for this."
Me thinks why is she telling me this. You accepted the price of $22 because you think you're all so good and that you don't take generics, and now you whinge about the price.
You know what I said:
Well that's the concession price and for the generic.
a) you don't have a valid health care card
b) you didn't want generics
So $5.90 does not apply to you.
She: Well I don't know. That's the price that I used to pay.
Me: You're probably thinking of something else. Anyway, please key in your pin number and press enter .... thanks.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Dr forward-dates E-mycin script
There was once an Indian man who came in with a script for E-mycin and 1% Clindamycin in Cetaphil Lotion. The lotion is not PBS so we charged a private price. After we make it, the daughter (whom the script was for) storms into the pharmacy and tells us off for over-charging her. Apparently she was charged $5.90 at another pharmacy and that she's been told she's always gotten it covered on PBS.
How? I do not know. Because Cetaphil itself is not PBS-listed. Even after explanation, she still doesn't believe us and in the end, returned her lotion and refused to pay for it. Stupid customer thinking they know better than the pharmacists - yeh we get that alot.
Anyway, the Indian man (father) came in yesterday for a script for E-mycin 400mg Tablets. However the script was forward dated til next month. Tried calling the doctor but no answer coz its late. So told him the script can't be dispensed until we contact the doctor coz the doctor wrote an earlier date.
He comes in today morning. Same script. So I called the doctor. Spoke to the receptionist at the surgery and she said the doctor is going on holidays so she wrote out several prescriptions and forward dated them. Do not dispense them until after that date on the script. They should be using an older script.
Great. So I tell the man that I spoke to the surgery and that the doctor has purposely wrote that date and she can't get it before that date. Any problems call the doctor.
Man: But this doesn't make sense. There's a doctor signature here and there's a date here. Obviously its a mistake.
Me: I clarified with the surgery. its not a mistake.
Man: Yes but i've worked in a bank for 4 years and you can't write a future date.
Me: Well I've worked in pharmacy for over 10 years and let me assure you, doctors can write a future date if they want.
Man: Well I don't know about this, its not that i don't believe you, but its just so unusual.
Me: Yeh well if you have any questions, call the doctor.
Man: I don't know anything about this coz my daughter gave me this script to get it for her.
Me: Yeh well then you CALL your daughter and ask her to call the doctor if she has any issues. Because I've called the doctor on my end and they said I can't dispense it. Alright?
Man this stands there analysing the prescription. Look mate, the script is not change its date by itself. I've done my bit. Go call your daughter and let her deal with it. And i don't give an EF with you working in the bank for 4 years. I've worked in pharmacy for quite long and you have no idea how it works.
You are merely just a slave for your daughter who gets her poor dad to deal with these issues. Tell her to come in herself if she has a problem.
Doctor opens a tube of Betadine and then asks customer to come get an exchange
A lady comes in to ask for an exchange. She bought Betadine antiseptic ointment a few days ago and she said the doctor told her not to use it but to use Bepanthen First Aid cream instead.
When I check the tube of Betadine, the cap has been opened. I told her we can't process any refunds or exchanges when its been opened.
She: I never used it. The doctor opened it!
Me: Yeh its been opened. You can't exchange it.
She: Why not? The doctor opened it, its not my fault!
Me: Doesn't matter who opened it but you wanted an exchange. I can't exchange it if its been opened.
She: But this is no use to me! The doctor said I can't use it coz it has color. So I have to use the Bepanthen instead! Please help me.
Me: I'm trying to help you here but its been opened, I can't do it.
She: But its not my fault!
Me: Yeh but its not my fault either. Its the doctor's fault. Why don't you go and speak to your doctor? His the one who opened it.
She: He opened it not me.
Me: That's between you and your doctor. It's got nothing to with us. I can't take it back and put it back on the shelf or sell to anyone else.
She: Then don't put it back on the shelf.
Me: What do you want me to do with it then?
She: I don't know. Throw it in the bin.
Me: Errrr so you want us to throw this in the bin and give you the Bepanthen free of charge is that right?
She: Yes
Me: Are you serious?!?!?!?!
Soooooo STUPID!
I just walked away and said that's very stupid. And told her straight out if its about money, then she should be asking the doctor to pay her the money. Don't come and ask us to bore the losses coz its not our fault. Stupid doctor, you know what colour Betadine is. Iodine is brown for god sakes. Why open the tube and look inside and then tell the patient its wrong. Idiot doctor. And don't pass the customer back to us and expect us to take it back! And stop begging me to give you an exchange for the wrong choice made. How dare she asked me to just chuck it in the bin and give her an exchange. No business would be that dumb to make that decision.
Later I speak to other customers who overhead the conversation and said that lady's got a problem. Obviously noone's gonna help you once the product's been opened!!!
When I check the tube of Betadine, the cap has been opened. I told her we can't process any refunds or exchanges when its been opened.
She: I never used it. The doctor opened it!
Me: Yeh its been opened. You can't exchange it.
She: Why not? The doctor opened it, its not my fault!
Me: Doesn't matter who opened it but you wanted an exchange. I can't exchange it if its been opened.
She: But this is no use to me! The doctor said I can't use it coz it has color. So I have to use the Bepanthen instead! Please help me.
Me: I'm trying to help you here but its been opened, I can't do it.
She: But its not my fault!
Me: Yeh but its not my fault either. Its the doctor's fault. Why don't you go and speak to your doctor? His the one who opened it.
She: He opened it not me.
Me: That's between you and your doctor. It's got nothing to with us. I can't take it back and put it back on the shelf or sell to anyone else.
She: Then don't put it back on the shelf.
Me: What do you want me to do with it then?
She: I don't know. Throw it in the bin.
Me: Errrr so you want us to throw this in the bin and give you the Bepanthen free of charge is that right?
She: Yes
Me: Are you serious?!?!?!?!
Soooooo STUPID!
I just walked away and said that's very stupid. And told her straight out if its about money, then she should be asking the doctor to pay her the money. Don't come and ask us to bore the losses coz its not our fault. Stupid doctor, you know what colour Betadine is. Iodine is brown for god sakes. Why open the tube and look inside and then tell the patient its wrong. Idiot doctor. And don't pass the customer back to us and expect us to take it back! And stop begging me to give you an exchange for the wrong choice made. How dare she asked me to just chuck it in the bin and give her an exchange. No business would be that dumb to make that decision.
Later I speak to other customers who overhead the conversation and said that lady's got a problem. Obviously noone's gonna help you once the product's been opened!!!
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Man begs us to fax his paperwork
A man interrupts what I'm doing and asked if we can fax something off for me.
Me: Sorry we don't do fax here. Just go to the library or newsagency, they can do it for you.
Him: But you did it for me last time!
Me: We never do faxes for customers here.
Him: Not you. But last time they did it for me here. Please I'm a long-term customer here.
My boss overheard and said 'fine just do it for him. and charge him $2 per page"
Customer: Hold on. Listen, you gonna charge me $2 for the fax?
Boss: Yeh is there a problem?
Customer: Then I'm never coming here again!
Boss: Why's that?
Customer: You asking me to pay for fax?
Boss: Yeh fax is not free.
Customer: Why $2?
Boss: It's always been that price. Even at our old pharmacy, it was that price. Its normal.
Customer: So its normal?
Boss: Yes, you go somewhere else, they charge for fax too. Its not free.
Customer: Ok I don't want it then.
And customer leaves.
LOL.... so customer BEGS us to fax stuff for him (when we don't do faxes anymore) and then he's not happy with the price and complains..... *rolls eyes* dude, that's why you shouldn't come here and force us to do something we don't do! Faxing is a lot of effort, we have to stand at the fax machine and fax it for you. We got other stuff to do you know!
Lady wants refund for cream after she's used it
Why do customers think they can refund or exchange items if they have opened and used it before?
Lady buys a wrinkle filler for her face. Her daughter reads the packet and realises its to be used as a makeup base NOT as a moisturiser skin care. She wants to exchange it for Loreal anti-wrinkle cream.
I open the packet and find there's remnants of the cream stuck on the tip. Obviously been used. I asked her, can't refund if you used it.
She: No no no I didn't use it. I only squeezed a little bit out to try and then i realised its wrong. I didn't use it.
Me: You just said you squeezed it out that means you've used it.
She: No no. Just a little bit!
Me: A little bit is still something. Do you want to buy something that someone else has used to test before?
She: Please its the wrong one. I didn't know English. Please change for me.
Me: You gotta speak to the manager then.
My boss eventually decided to exchange for her coz she was whinging.
Ridiculous though.
Maybe I'll get the doctor to write the Spiriva prescription
A regular customer wants an owing for Spiriva capsules for her husband. I go its ok and then she got greedy and asked me if she can get 2.
Me: Sorry we can only give you one without a script.
She: But why? I'll bring the script back.
Me: Yes I know. But you don't have a script now. I'll give you another one when you bring the script in.
She: Its not enough.
Me: Not enough? One box has 30 capsules in there. You use it once a day. This one box will last you one month!
She: Yeh just in case i don't see the doctor or I forget.
Me: Ummm.... no. If you want me to give you a box now, you need to bring a script in within 7 days anyway. So one box is more than enough.
She: Yeh maybe my husband is going overseas. I don't know.
Me: Maybe? Then maybe when you know for sure, maybe go to the doctor and get a script, then maybe I'll give you another one. And no maybe for bringing back the script. You MUST bring back the script within 7 days.
She: Ok..........
MAYBE????!!!! What kind of reasoning is that? Maybe I won't give it to you knowing that you're a maybe for bringing back a script.........
Incompetent doctor don't know how to prescribe Seretide
I don't know what's wrong with this doctor! No wonder noone sees her. She works in a medical centre. Today there's 3 doctors on. The 2 male doctors have 10 patients in the queue waiting to see them, whereas this lady doctor only has 1. Not a very popular doctor, which is expected, considering all the mistakes she makes in her practice!
A young girl comes in with a script for Seretide 50/25 Inhaler. I look on her medical history, she's usually on the Seretide 250/50 Accuhaler. So I ask her, is she after the Accuhaler coz the doctor's written her a different one. She confirms by showing me an old device of the Seretide 250/50 Accuhaler. I tell her to go back to the doctor and get it changed coz the doctor's written the wrong one.
She comes back later with a script for: Seretide 250/25 Inhaler. which is NOT what she wanted.
I tell her again, that the doctor has written her the wrong one again. Getting a bit frustrated here. Both of us are like WTF is wrong with this doctor. I teach her she needs to check the script when the doctor gives it to her that it must write ACCUHALER and the dose is 250/50, otherwise she is going to have to go to the doctor again.
Third time lucky, she gets it fixed up and comes with a script for Seretide 250/50 Accuhaler! Yay! The patient was a bit worried, kept on asking me if this is the right one.
Seriously, this is poor practice. The doctor is not busy, she doesn't have a long queue, and she can't even do a simple thing, can't even prescribe properly even if the patient shows her the product itself. How hard can it be?
And the fact that I have to teach the patient to double-check the doctor's work is just appalling.......
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Coversyl man with a cough
A customer comes into the pharmacy with a script for Avapro 150mg. I noticed he used to take Coversyl 5mg so I asked him if its been changed. He proceeds to whinge to me about the doctors from the medical centre.
Him: "Its so hard to find a good doctor around here. They all don't seem to listen to you."
Me: "Why what happened?"
Him: "I've been telling the doctors I get side effects from the Coversyl so many times, but none of them does anything! You tell them and they don't care."
Me: "Is it a dry cough?"
Him: "Yes! How'd you know?"
Me: "Coz its the most common side effect for Coversyl. A lot of ppl who take Coversyl need to switch to a different medicine coz of a dry cough. How long have you had the cough for?"
Him: "For years. Tell the doctor every time I come but they do nothing. They just say 'oh its rare'... so i decided to stop it myself and the cough stopped."
Me: "Thats very unusual. Doctors should know its not rare side effect. Well when you told them, did they investigate if its due to the Coversyl?"
Him: "Nop! Just told me its nothing and told me to continue with the Coversyl."
So i go on to explain to him about Avapro, to confirm that the doctor has took the right step and prescribed him Avapro instead. Different class of drug, no dry cough side effect but will need to monitor and review with the dr in a few weeks as its a different dosage.
Had a long chat with him, and taught him how to do and read bp readings properly.
He was really happy and said how come doctors don't talk to him like I talk to him?
Me: "Maybe doctors are busy these days. I dunno haha"....
Yeh I know why ... the real answer is, some are lazy and all they do is sit there and reprint existing scripts from the computer.....
Him: "Its so hard to find a good doctor around here. They all don't seem to listen to you."
Me: "Why what happened?"
Him: "I've been telling the doctors I get side effects from the Coversyl so many times, but none of them does anything! You tell them and they don't care."
Me: "Is it a dry cough?"
Him: "Yes! How'd you know?"
Me: "Coz its the most common side effect for Coversyl. A lot of ppl who take Coversyl need to switch to a different medicine coz of a dry cough. How long have you had the cough for?"
Him: "For years. Tell the doctor every time I come but they do nothing. They just say 'oh its rare'... so i decided to stop it myself and the cough stopped."
Me: "Thats very unusual. Doctors should know its not rare side effect. Well when you told them, did they investigate if its due to the Coversyl?"
Him: "Nop! Just told me its nothing and told me to continue with the Coversyl."
So i go on to explain to him about Avapro, to confirm that the doctor has took the right step and prescribed him Avapro instead. Different class of drug, no dry cough side effect but will need to monitor and review with the dr in a few weeks as its a different dosage.
Had a long chat with him, and taught him how to do and read bp readings properly.
He was really happy and said how come doctors don't talk to him like I talk to him?
Me: "Maybe doctors are busy these days. I dunno haha"....
Yeh I know why ... the real answer is, some are lazy and all they do is sit there and reprint existing scripts from the computer.....
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Lipitor VS Zocor.
A lady comes into the pharmacy today to return the Lipitor which she bought yesterday. She would like to exchange it for the Zocor which the doctor has prescribed her today. She has a new script for Zocor.
Upon talking, it turns out that she has not taken any cholesterol medicines before. Blood test came back recently and it had her cholesterol in the high range. She came to see the dr yesterday and he prescribed her Lipitor.
She went home and spoke to a friend and the friend told her she got really bad side effects with the Lipitor and told her not to take it. So lady returns today to see the doctor to change it over to a different one aka Zocor.
I informed her that everyone's reaction is different. And its very unusual for doctors to switch patients from Lipitor to Zocor. Its usually the other way around. Furthermore, Zocor is an old-generation statin and is no longer prescribed first line. Lipitor is used by more people in Australia than any other statin.
She says she knows but she insisted and said she prefers to use something that's been on the market longer because she thinks its 'safer'.
No honey. Rhabdomyolysis is more likely to occur and compared to Lipitor, its lowering-cholesterol power is not as strong.
Anyway, she insisted, so i dispensed Zocor to her and told her good luck. And that Zocor is not side-effect free so don't be surprised if she does get those side effects.
It would be interesting to see what her reaction would be if she does get rhabdomyolysis with the Zocor.................
So dumb
Saturday, 31 August 2013
I want Lansoprazole!
A weirdo lady came into the pharmacy yesterday. She was a bit reluctant to give us her Medicare and pension card coz she thinks its a 'breach of privacy'. Pay the full price then if you don't give us your card!
Anyway, script said Lansoprazole Tabs 30mg. Dr didn't specify a brand so we gave her our preferred generic brand Zopral ODT 30mg Tabs.
She was so angry when she saw the box.
She: No!!! This is not Lansoprazole! Give me Lansoprazole!
Pharmacist: But this is lansoprazole. Lansoprazole is just the ingredient name. There are a lot of brands on the market.
She: No I don't care. You must give me what the doctor writes on the prescription!
Pharm: This is what the dr wrote on the prescription. See it says here Lansoprazole (points to ingredient name on box)
Lady refuses to look.
She: Yeh I know. I want the one that says Lansoprazole!
Pharm: (decides to show her the brands we have, including Zoton the originator brand) Is it this one?
She: No! I want Lansoprazole! It says Lansoprazole! You just don't get it.
Pharmacy manager intervenes.
He: She gave you the write one. Lansoprazole is just the ingredient, not a brand name. If you look on the box here, that's what it says - lansoprazole.
Lady again refuses to look.
She: Give me back my script! You guys don't know what you are doing and not being helpful at all.
Manager: well we are. We all are here trying to explain to you, but you're refusing to listen the pharmacists who know what they're doing and you don't even want to look at the box. We can't help you, you're refusing to be helped and you're just beyond help.
LOL We all cracked up laughing!
She: You all are dumb! I'm taking my script elsewhere.
We laughed even louder as she walked out because she was being such an idiot.
Change of mind with Maxamox
A new customer comes in with two prescriptions for 2 different people. Computer generated prescription for Maxamox 500mg/5ml syrup. I asked her for a medicare and health care card, she only gives me a Medicare card. I asked her did she want both of these medicines and she says yes.
After we dispensed it, she goes to the counter to pay. Furiously she comes back to the dispensary because she thinks we've overcharged her.
Me: "That's the right price on Medicare card."
She: I usually pay $5.90 for these! And also I didn't know they were the same thing. I only want one bottle.
Me: You didn't give me your health care card when I asked you, so do you have one?
She: Yes but I forgot to bring it!
Me: Ok that's fine. I'll call Medicare and see if I can get your health care card number from them. You'll have to give me a minute so I can give them a phone call.
She: Nop I don't want it. I don't have time. I want my script back and i'm going to another pharmacy.
Me: Your syrup has already been mixed. We won't accept any returns for these. I'll call Medicare for you.
She: Also I only wanted one, not two. I didn't realise it was the same thing.
Me: You said you wanted both prescriptions. It's written pretty clearly its the same thing. You could've told us beforehand. It's too late now. Plus one bottle is not enough for two people.
So we call Medicare and they only have health care card for one of the people. And she just got angry she leaves without her meds and script.
LOL....Dude, should've been more organised and bring your cards in. When you're going to a new pharmacy, don't expect everyone to know your health care card number. And don't you know English? Read the script before you buy it. Its obviously the same item.
After we dispensed it, she goes to the counter to pay. Furiously she comes back to the dispensary because she thinks we've overcharged her.
Me: "That's the right price on Medicare card."
She: I usually pay $5.90 for these! And also I didn't know they were the same thing. I only want one bottle.
Me: You didn't give me your health care card when I asked you, so do you have one?
She: Yes but I forgot to bring it!
Me: Ok that's fine. I'll call Medicare and see if I can get your health care card number from them. You'll have to give me a minute so I can give them a phone call.
She: Nop I don't want it. I don't have time. I want my script back and i'm going to another pharmacy.
Me: Your syrup has already been mixed. We won't accept any returns for these. I'll call Medicare for you.
She: Also I only wanted one, not two. I didn't realise it was the same thing.
Me: You said you wanted both prescriptions. It's written pretty clearly its the same thing. You could've told us beforehand. It's too late now. Plus one bottle is not enough for two people.
So we call Medicare and they only have health care card for one of the people. And she just got angry she leaves without her meds and script.
LOL....Dude, should've been more organised and bring your cards in. When you're going to a new pharmacy, don't expect everyone to know your health care card number. And don't you know English? Read the script before you buy it. Its obviously the same item.
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Every medicine should be covered on PBS
Lady comes in with a script for Elocon cream and Zyrtec syrup for her daughter. She has a Centrelink health care card. Elocon was covered and Zyrtec was not.
She got soooo upset. "Why is Zyrtec not covered?"
Me: "Not everything is covered. The government and Medicare decides what's covered."
She: "Everything should be covered - its a medicine. People get sick and need it."
Me: "If everything was covered, the country would go broke."
She: "No I don't believe that."
Me: "It's true. The country's has a lot of debt at the moment. You just don't see it. Anyway, you have some medicines that are covered, some that are not. That makes a balance. Some people don't even get a discount. At least you do."
Seriously, so stingy. Be grateful for what you have. Another selfish person thinking for themselves again. I'm sick, I still need to buy meds, noone feels sorry for me.
She got soooo upset. "Why is Zyrtec not covered?"
Me: "Not everything is covered. The government and Medicare decides what's covered."
She: "Everything should be covered - its a medicine. People get sick and need it."
Me: "If everything was covered, the country would go broke."
She: "No I don't believe that."
Me: "It's true. The country's has a lot of debt at the moment. You just don't see it. Anyway, you have some medicines that are covered, some that are not. That makes a balance. Some people don't even get a discount. At least you do."
Seriously, so stingy. Be grateful for what you have. Another selfish person thinking for themselves again. I'm sick, I still need to buy meds, noone feels sorry for me.
Stupid questions customers ask the pharmacist
Pharmacist: this is an antibiotic. Take it three times a day until finished.
Customer: Is that in the morning? OR Do I split the tablet into 3 parts and take it 3 times a day? OR You mean morning, lunch and dinner?
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Pharmacist: this is a cream. just apply it twice a day.
Customer: apply before or after shower?
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Pharmacist: Make sure you take Nurofen after food.
Customer: So do I take this before or after food?
Price Disclosure
News bulletin had an article on price disclosure.
In a loophole:
"Why are medicines in Australia much more expensive than those medicines overseas?"
"The government's recent changes in price disclosure will help reduce prices of medicines."
"Price disclosure is a benefit to the community and its a good thing."
PRO-Government.
Now if patients were so concerned about the prices of medicines, why didn't they promote generic substitution. Overseas markets probably stock a different brand from us. Choose the generic brand if you want to help the healthcare system. But some people are selfish and don't care.
Secondly, Australia has higher standards of living and we pay a lot of tax. The manufacturer don't just simply make the medicine, they hire a lot of people to run the plant. Wages are higher in Australia. Research team, development team, manufacturing team, marketing team, sales team, accounts team....... who pays them. You lower the prices of medicines, all those ppl will be out of a job.
Thirdly, price disclosure means less profits for pharmacies. Result will be cost-cutting, bankruptcy, more pharmacies closing down, more pharmacists being out of a job.
End point, the government wants to destroy the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system because it's costing them a lot of money.
Well then how about thinking about being a bit more strict on welfare and issuing health care cards, coz there's why too many ppl doing dodgies having health care cards when I believe they shouldn't. You have a health care card but you drive a Merc or Audi, you can't afford to buy meds? So many dodgies out there Centrelink doesn't bother to crack down. Close the loopholes!
IMO, misleading article. Not explaining the implications. Not offering other alternatives.
Sign the petition in your local pharmacy NOW
In a loophole:
"Why are medicines in Australia much more expensive than those medicines overseas?"
"The government's recent changes in price disclosure will help reduce prices of medicines."
"Price disclosure is a benefit to the community and its a good thing."
PRO-Government.
Now if patients were so concerned about the prices of medicines, why didn't they promote generic substitution. Overseas markets probably stock a different brand from us. Choose the generic brand if you want to help the healthcare system. But some people are selfish and don't care.
Secondly, Australia has higher standards of living and we pay a lot of tax. The manufacturer don't just simply make the medicine, they hire a lot of people to run the plant. Wages are higher in Australia. Research team, development team, manufacturing team, marketing team, sales team, accounts team....... who pays them. You lower the prices of medicines, all those ppl will be out of a job.
Thirdly, price disclosure means less profits for pharmacies. Result will be cost-cutting, bankruptcy, more pharmacies closing down, more pharmacists being out of a job.
End point, the government wants to destroy the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system because it's costing them a lot of money.
Well then how about thinking about being a bit more strict on welfare and issuing health care cards, coz there's why too many ppl doing dodgies having health care cards when I believe they shouldn't. You have a health care card but you drive a Merc or Audi, you can't afford to buy meds? So many dodgies out there Centrelink doesn't bother to crack down. Close the loopholes!
IMO, misleading article. Not explaining the implications. Not offering other alternatives.
Sign the petition in your local pharmacy NOW
Lipitor for free
Lady comes in with a hand-written script for Lipitor 40mg.
Asked for a Medicare and pensioner/health care card. She only produces a Medicare.
Asked her to clarify the address.
She: "Why? Isn't it on the script?"
Me: "It is but its not very clear." (its handwritten all mushed up)
She grabs the pen from my hand and writes in BIG LETTERS ON THE TOP, PRESSING DOWN THE PEN really hard onto the paper like an angry child.
So I dispense the script, give her Lipitor. $36.10 thank you.
She: "Why did you charge me $36.10? I usually get it for free from my other chemist."
Me: "Free? No its not free unless you have a Safetynet card. Do you have a Safetynet card?"
She whips out her purse and shows her pension card through the purse window.
She: "No I got this."
Me: "Yeh that's a pension card. That will make it $5.90 but definitely not free. To get it for free you need this Safetynet card." (which I show her and wave in her face)
She: "Yeh well i don't understand. Anyway, you are overcharging me and I don't want it anymore. You never asked me for those cards before and I don't like it."
Me: "Fair enough. (i delete the script). Here you go, you don't have the cards you can't get it for free. You know when you go to other pharmacies, you need to show them your cards, otherwise noone's gonna know what price to give you. Have a nice day." Give the script and I walk away.
I think she wanted to say something as a comeback but I was already serving another customer. If she's not happy, she can leave.
Comes back later with Lipitor from another pharmacy: "I want to speak to your boss."
Complains to my boss about me overcharging her. Told my boss she wanted it for free but does not have a SN card. She says the other pharmacy charged her $5.90. I said that's because of the pension card, you never gave me a pension card at the beginning and you were expecting it to be for free. You wanted it for free, I can't give it to you for free. So transaction was cancelled. What are you complaining for?
She says I was mistreating her coz I have something against you.
Boss laughed and said "well if you say so then there's nothing more i can say. Because they don't even know you, there's no reason for them to. but you're entitled to your opinions, you are entitled to go to other pharmacies so be it. (she was threatening not to come here again).We can't offer the medicine for free. If the other pharmacy is, and you don't have a safetynet card then what they are doing is illegal."
She wanted to complain to vent out. My boss ain't gonna give it her for free and my boss ain't gonna tell me off either. So her complaint wasn't successful. Threatened not to shop around here. Don't care because you're not a regular and you don't live in the area.
She has attitude problems anyway. Yeh I do have something against you. Your stuck-up face.
Calling Department of Health to complain about GPs prescribing unauthorised medicines
A man comes in with a private script for Roaccutane 10mg.
Noticed it was the same doctor that we called last time regarding the same problem we had with another patient.
The doctor didn't care when we told him the legislation. He didn't believe us. His argument was 'if i wasn't allowed, then why does my prescribing software allow me to do that. You don't know what you're talking about and they've changed the legislation."
We refused to dispense it.
One week later, the doctor writes Roaccutane script for another patient. Didn't even bother calling the doctor again. Just told the patient the dr is not authorized and they need to go see a specialist. They go why? "My explanation was simply: Your doctor is a GP. There are some medicines that they can't prescribe. There are some rules that GPs need to follow." In other words, stop thinking your doctor is GOD and prescribe anything.
After that, I decide to call Department of Health to complain and confirm the legislation. Legislation still remains the same - no changes. Told the Duty Pharmaceutical Officer there's been an increased influx of those scripts written by GPs in the area. DPO said just refer them to the legislation. I said I have but the doctors haven't heard of it. I told DPO they should print out a letter or something to clarify this with the doctors in our area coz they don't believe us. Some even prescribe Concerta and Ritalin which is a health issue to the public. She asked me if there are specific doctors that do it, I go there's a lot of them so there's no one particular one.
Hopefully they will do something about it.
If that Roaccutane doctor does it again, I'll be reporting him. I told him once, if he doesn't get it, let the Department of Health deal with it.
Noticed it was the same doctor that we called last time regarding the same problem we had with another patient.
The doctor didn't care when we told him the legislation. He didn't believe us. His argument was 'if i wasn't allowed, then why does my prescribing software allow me to do that. You don't know what you're talking about and they've changed the legislation."
We refused to dispense it.
One week later, the doctor writes Roaccutane script for another patient. Didn't even bother calling the doctor again. Just told the patient the dr is not authorized and they need to go see a specialist. They go why? "My explanation was simply: Your doctor is a GP. There are some medicines that they can't prescribe. There are some rules that GPs need to follow." In other words, stop thinking your doctor is GOD and prescribe anything.
After that, I decide to call Department of Health to complain and confirm the legislation. Legislation still remains the same - no changes. Told the Duty Pharmaceutical Officer there's been an increased influx of those scripts written by GPs in the area. DPO said just refer them to the legislation. I said I have but the doctors haven't heard of it. I told DPO they should print out a letter or something to clarify this with the doctors in our area coz they don't believe us. Some even prescribe Concerta and Ritalin which is a health issue to the public. She asked me if there are specific doctors that do it, I go there's a lot of them so there's no one particular one.
Hopefully they will do something about it.
If that Roaccutane doctor does it again, I'll be reporting him. I told him once, if he doesn't get it, let the Department of Health deal with it.
Takes them one year after they bought medicine to complain
It never ceases to amaze me how people complain about unreasonable things.
A couple comes into the pharmacy the other day to complain that the box of medicine they bought was EMPTY.
It was Nurofen 400mg which we stopped stocking about a year ago. Nurofen 400mg was S3 so its kept behind the shelf. It also had our dispensing label on it. The couple had bought it one year ago and only now they came back to say its empty.
One year ago - seriously. You leave a packet of pain killers in the back of your cabinet and don't open it. Was the seal broken when you bought it? No. Was it tampered with? Can't be coz its S3 and its behind the shelf.
How do customers expect us to investigate and believe them? You must prove it. You got no proof. How do you prove that you didn't take it and finish all the tablets within that one year frame?
In the end they're complaining, manager said just give them a few tablets of Brufen to shut them up. Cheap anyway. But geez, they complain and wasn't happy when the manager said its not our fault. You're just stupid enough to come one year later to complain......
A couple comes into the pharmacy the other day to complain that the box of medicine they bought was EMPTY.
It was Nurofen 400mg which we stopped stocking about a year ago. Nurofen 400mg was S3 so its kept behind the shelf. It also had our dispensing label on it. The couple had bought it one year ago and only now they came back to say its empty.
One year ago - seriously. You leave a packet of pain killers in the back of your cabinet and don't open it. Was the seal broken when you bought it? No. Was it tampered with? Can't be coz its S3 and its behind the shelf.
How do customers expect us to investigate and believe them? You must prove it. You got no proof. How do you prove that you didn't take it and finish all the tablets within that one year frame?
In the end they're complaining, manager said just give them a few tablets of Brufen to shut them up. Cheap anyway. But geez, they complain and wasn't happy when the manager said its not our fault. You're just stupid enough to come one year later to complain......
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Medicare must subsidise Waxsol
A pensioner walks into the pharmacy and asked me to get him Waxsol.
I grab it off the shelf and give it to him.
Him: How much is this?
Me: About $11. Its not covered on Medicare or pension card.
Him: I'm a pensioner!
Me: Yes I know. Unfortunately that's not covered.
Him: Well let me ask you something. This is a medicine. Why is it not covered?
Me: A lot of things are not covered on Medicare. A lot of products, non-prescription items are not subsidised.
Him: Well I got a lot of wax in my ears, and I find it ridiculous why its not covered on my pension card. It SHOULD be covered.
Me: Yeh I know but I don't make the rules.
Him: I'm going to complain coz I think all medicines should be covered.
I could go on for ages and explain to him why that's not a good idea but I couldn't be bothered.
Me: Yeh just call Medicare and put in a suggestion. I can't change anything.
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Honestly, its only $11. Ear wax is not something you have all the time. You will not be using it everyday. Pensioners price is $5.90. so are you saying that paying that extra $5 is TOO MUCH for you? $5 for something you can use for the whole year. I think that's a bargain.
And why should Medicare change the whole system just because you got WAX in your ears?
And there's no use telling me what you think should be or shouldn't be on the system coz I'm just the pharmacist, I'm not the health minister.
And you think ALL medications should be covered? Our health care system and economy will collapse. Wouldn't even afford to give you a pensioners allowance.
I grab it off the shelf and give it to him.
Him: How much is this?
Me: About $11. Its not covered on Medicare or pension card.
Him: I'm a pensioner!
Me: Yes I know. Unfortunately that's not covered.
Him: Well let me ask you something. This is a medicine. Why is it not covered?
Me: A lot of things are not covered on Medicare. A lot of products, non-prescription items are not subsidised.
Him: Well I got a lot of wax in my ears, and I find it ridiculous why its not covered on my pension card. It SHOULD be covered.
Me: Yeh I know but I don't make the rules.
Him: I'm going to complain coz I think all medicines should be covered.
I could go on for ages and explain to him why that's not a good idea but I couldn't be bothered.
Me: Yeh just call Medicare and put in a suggestion. I can't change anything.
--------------
Honestly, its only $11. Ear wax is not something you have all the time. You will not be using it everyday. Pensioners price is $5.90. so are you saying that paying that extra $5 is TOO MUCH for you? $5 for something you can use for the whole year. I think that's a bargain.
And why should Medicare change the whole system just because you got WAX in your ears?
And there's no use telling me what you think should be or shouldn't be on the system coz I'm just the pharmacist, I'm not the health minister.
And you think ALL medications should be covered? Our health care system and economy will collapse. Wouldn't even afford to give you a pensioners allowance.
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Viagra man
A man comes into the pharmacy today to buy Viagra..... The script was for 12 tablets, which is quite expensive.
I asked him how many tablets he wanted to buy today. Called his name, and this drunk dude walks to the counter.
Him: "Yeh I want ALL of them."
Me: "All 12 tablets is about $200."
Him: "Oh I've only got here $50, $100, $150. $150 - give me $150 worth because I'm gonna need heaps of it. I'm gonna be a busy man."
Me: "Ok you can get 8 tablets. That will be just under $150."
Him: "Yeh 8 tablets is ok. You know I need to get my thing up." (points to male body part and flicks his fingers).
So I dispense the script and give him his tablets, then suddenly he sticks out his hand wanting to thank me for helping him.
Me: "Oh that's ok. Thank you. Please pay at the front counter."
And I quickly walk away before he gets a chance to grab my hand......
Didn't want to shake his hand. Not sure what it's been touching!!!!
I asked him how many tablets he wanted to buy today. Called his name, and this drunk dude walks to the counter.
Him: "Yeh I want ALL of them."
Me: "All 12 tablets is about $200."
Him: "Oh I've only got here $50, $100, $150. $150 - give me $150 worth because I'm gonna need heaps of it. I'm gonna be a busy man."
Me: "Ok you can get 8 tablets. That will be just under $150."
Him: "Yeh 8 tablets is ok. You know I need to get my thing up." (points to male body part and flicks his fingers).
So I dispense the script and give him his tablets, then suddenly he sticks out his hand wanting to thank me for helping him.
Me: "Oh that's ok. Thank you. Please pay at the front counter."
And I quickly walk away before he gets a chance to grab my hand......
Didn't want to shake his hand. Not sure what it's been touching!!!!
Saturday, 27 July 2013
Dr Clueless thinks Lipex is Atorvastatin. Its actually Simvastatin!
A customer walks into the pharmacy with a few scripts.
She gives me a list of her medications which she's been taking. Basically she's a tourist from New Zealand. And she saw this doctor for a script.
On the list she has
"atorvastatin 10mg"
But on the scripts she didn't have any atorvastatin 10mg. Instead she had "lipex 10mg". Active ingredient of Lipex is simvastatin.
Doesn't make sense coz Atorvastatin is better than Simvastatin in terms of efficacy and side effects profile so why would a dr switch a patient stabilised on atorvastatin to simvastatin?
Called the doctor did she mean Lipitor (atorvastatin)?
Pharmacist: Patient has a list that says atorvastatin 10mg, but you've written lipex 10mg.
Dr: Yeh i just wrote whatever she had on that list.
Pharmacist. Lipex is simvastatin. If you want atorvastatin then that's Lipitor. Did you mean Lipitor?
Dr: Yeh just whatever's on that list. Just change it to Lipitor then.
Pharmacist: ok thanks.
Dr tries to brush it off. But all the pharmacists at the pharmacy spent the next 15min laughing about this clueless doctor coz we know she thinks the active ingredient of Lipex is atorvastatin LOL ..... LMAO
Go back to med school man!!!!
She gives me a list of her medications which she's been taking. Basically she's a tourist from New Zealand. And she saw this doctor for a script.
On the list she has
"atorvastatin 10mg"
But on the scripts she didn't have any atorvastatin 10mg. Instead she had "lipex 10mg". Active ingredient of Lipex is simvastatin.
Doesn't make sense coz Atorvastatin is better than Simvastatin in terms of efficacy and side effects profile so why would a dr switch a patient stabilised on atorvastatin to simvastatin?
Called the doctor did she mean Lipitor (atorvastatin)?
Pharmacist: Patient has a list that says atorvastatin 10mg, but you've written lipex 10mg.
Dr: Yeh i just wrote whatever she had on that list.
Pharmacist. Lipex is simvastatin. If you want atorvastatin then that's Lipitor. Did you mean Lipitor?
Dr: Yeh just whatever's on that list. Just change it to Lipitor then.
Pharmacist: ok thanks.
Dr tries to brush it off. But all the pharmacists at the pharmacy spent the next 15min laughing about this clueless doctor coz we know she thinks the active ingredient of Lipex is atorvastatin LOL ..... LMAO
Go back to med school man!!!!
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