Should I be written up for this?

[Doctor M]

That's the thing, we have a full time technician who is designated as the "inventory specialist" (who's only been in the pharmacy for like 6-8 months). So she's basically in charge of keeping stuff in stock and whatnot. If something is not in stock, I'm not gonna wait to contact her just to make sure I can order it or w/e.

And the other thing, she's not the pharmacist who trained me. I still operate the same way I was trained by my first supervisor (when it comes to out of stock, I was trained to just order the item + 3-4 additional units from Cardinal), and I don't plan on changing the way I operate for every supervisor that comes along.

Is this why your getting written up? Not because you ordered 1 item from cardinal, but because you ordered 3 to 4 extra item...

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[Sparda29]

Is this why your getting written up? Not because you ordered 1 item from cardinal, but because you ordered 3 to 4 extra item...

Well, if you're out of stock on the item and 1 person came in to order it. You're going to be out of stock on the item AGAIN if someone else comes in for it.

These are the items that I've ordered recently:

Pataday
Patanase
Ziana Gel
Generic Cozaar and Hyzaar
Rugby Nicotine Patches
Allegra
Lantus Solostar

Buproban (this is the generic that comes up when you enter Zyban as a script, according to the floater that was in on the day I ordered it, it is not the same as the generic for Wellbutrin.)

 

[Old Timer]

Well, if you're out of stock on the item and 1 person came in to order it. You're going to be out of stock on the item AGAIN if someone else comes in for it.

You don't get to make that decision. That decision is made above your pay grade. You order as much as you need for the patient in question. Your PIC should be consulted before ordering any additional product. I would pick it up from another store before I ordered four Pataday, Patanse or any of the other items w/o a really strong need.

 

[LiveLoveFartRepeat]

But why would you write up a tech for ordering warehouse items from Cardinal? Why make the patient wait another week or so for the order day to come around?

Because I am running a business. but seriously like I pointed out, the patient always come first that why we always ask the patient if he is out of his med before making the business decision of ordering an item that will reduce our margin of profit. I am trying to make it a win win situation for my business and my patients. The patient who take their med everyday on the clock will tell you they need it, the one that don't will tell hey no biggee I'll come back next friday I have few pills left.
I am not writing up the tech for ordering from cardinal but for not following directives..ask first if the patient has enough pills. If that simple first step is not followed then it's open bar for cardinal ordering and I cannot tolerate that. I believe anyone can be a good pharmacist and run a a profitable business.

 

[Sparda29]

Because I am running a business. but seriously like I pointed out, the patient always come first that why we always ask the patient if he is out of his med before making the business decision of ordering an item that will reduce our margin of profit. I am trying to make it a win win situation for my business and my patients. The patient who take their med everyday on the clock will tell you they need it, the one that don't will tell hey no biggee I'll come back next friday I have few pills left.
I am not writing up the tech for ordering from cardinal but for not following directives..ask first if the patient has enough pills. If that simple first step is not followed then it's open bar for cardinal ordering and I cannot tolerate that. I believe anyone can be a good pharmacist and run a a profitable business.

Unless you're running your own independent pharmacy, you're not really running a business. Does a CVS pharmacist get paid more bonus for the amount of profit margin they make for the store?

 

[LiveLoveFartRepeat]

. and I don't plan on changing the way I operate for every supervisor that comes along.

I hope you'll remember your own words when you start working as a rxist and you have techs testing your limits. I am not the PIC at my store but I started at this store in January and was facing similar attitude from some of the techs, few weeks ago I decided the honeymoon was over; they are going to start to do things the CVS way and then my way when I am working. I've already given a verbal warning to our lead tech over an attitude problem and she seemed to have gotten the message everything has been running smoothly since that talk. I wrote a list of nightime tech duty to help our nightime tech not to run of without stocking printers and doing some evening duties. No more flip flops and everyone shoud have their lab coat on with name tags. am I demanding? I don't think so. The tech were just testing the limits of the new rx. They have a pic and have been dealing with mainly floaters for I don't know how many years before I came on board.

I am sure some of them where not planning on changing the way they operate but it is going to happen if they don't wanna find themselves at a different store.

 

[LiveLoveFartRepeat]

Unless you're running your own independent pharmacy, you're not really running a business. Does a CVS pharmacist get paid more bonus for the amount of profit margin they make for the store?

I am not running my own business but I take pride in making business sound decisions. I really could not care less about the bonus, I don't budget my life around it.I like my numbers to look good, I am not even the PIC at my store. But yes it's my understanding that your profit margin does count into your bonus, may be OT who has more experience with CVS can tell me if I am wrong.

 

[ajh88]

I am not running my own business but I take pride in making business sound decisions. I really could not care less about the bonus, I don't budget my life around it.I like my numbers to look good, I am not even the PIC at my store. But yes it's my understanding that your profit margin does count into your bonus, may be OT who has more experience with CVS can tell me if I am wrong.

Agreed Gabon - I can't speak for CVS directly, but the chain where I intern, not only are pharmacists' bonuses tied to profit margin, but so is part of their annual evaluations and therefore their annual raises. It doesn't count for 100% but it is definitely factored in there.

I can't speak to Sparda's specific situation, but my PIC would flip his lid at me if I ordered 3 or 4 Patadays because we had one patient who needed one - and I'm in good graces with him with no other issues going on. That said, I don't think he'd write me up, but he would be mad.

 

[Sparda29]

Agreed Gabon - I can't speak for CVS directly, but the chain where I intern, not only are pharmacists' bonuses tied to profit margin, but so is part of their annual evaluations and therefore their annual raises. It doesn't count for 100% but it is definitely factored in there.

I can't speak to Sparda's specific situation, but my PIC would flip his lid at me if I ordered 3 or 4 Patadays because we had one patient who needed one - and I'm in good graces with him with no other issues going on. That said, I don't think he'd write me up, but he would be mad.

Think about it though, what time of year is this? Pataday and Patanase are going to be flying off the shelves.

 

[ajh88]

Think about it though, what time of year is this? Pataday and Patanase are going to be flying off the shelves.

Maybe - I don't know, we've done one script for Pataday and one script for Patanase this year - docs in our area just don't write for it.

**Edited to add: I get your point though - if you are doing a high volume of those drugs and always seem to have none in stock, I get where you're coming from. I still humbly believe it is the PIC's job to handle that inventory issue by ordering a larger supply from the warehouse rather than ordering a bunch from Cardinal to have on the shelf, even if they will be used eventually.**

Honestly, I might have ordered one for the patient and then told the manager about it to see if he can adjust the ordering system to make sure we keep some in stock. Our inventory system gets jacked up once in awhile but usually the PIC is on top of it.

He would still be mad if I ordered 3, 4, or 5 of ANY item without telling him or without his approval first - like I said before, maybe not "write me up" mad, but mad nonetheless. I could explain ordering ONE for a patient who needs it - and I would be ticked if he tried to write me up for ordering one.