I know it depends on a lot of factors like how busy you and stuff like that but what do you find yourself doing most of the time?
For those of you in retail, what's your cut off time for drop offs? 15 mins to closing?
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Depends on numerous variables. If it is a normal day and I'm in a good mood ill do a single or maybe two non-CII scripts with 5 min to closing.
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if it's easy rx's i can do quick then i'll stay late an extra 5 min. if it's insurance problem, or an md call, or a problem with a script, or like 5 or 6 or 10 prescriptions, then nope, tomorrow, or go to another pharmacy that is open 24 hours. now it's not my problem. that's when i'm at the chain. if its for my private pharmacy, however, i'll definitely do it, even if its an insurance problem, md call or whatever the issue is. To me the patient comes first and i feel like its my personal responsibility as a health care provider to do as much as i can for the person who just walked in the door. I don't care if they have 15 prescriptions, i'll close the doors, put up the closed sign, and tell the person to stay in the store that i'm gonna do everything for them without them having to worry about a thing.
the 2 opposite attitudes in how i work reflect how i am treated by each employer and how much i feel valued by each.
the 2 opposite attitudes in how i work reflect how i am treated by each employer and how much i feel valued by each.
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I only work independent retail so it's not really my decision since I'm not the one with the keys. Usually I get paid 5-10 minutes before closing time and then by 8PM, I've already signed all the paperwork and the techs and I are walking out the door and the owner is setting the alarm.
So I guess the cutoff is 5 minutes from closing time since that's when I print out the paperwork. But if they want to stay, I do and they pay me extra without me asking for it.
So I guess the cutoff is 5 minutes from closing time since that's when I print out the paperwork. But if they want to stay, I do and they pay me extra without me asking for it.
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Antibiotic, ER script, etc I will stay and do.
Maintenance med you have held on to for 3 months? Come back tomorrow.
I just go by how fast I can get it done, usually about 5 minutes till closing.
Maintenance med you have held on to for 3 months? Come back tomorrow.
I just go by how fast I can get it done, usually about 5 minutes till closing.
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Seriously, a 3 month old toprol script can wait. I don't care that you've been out of it for a week (and 3weeks late on a fill) but you NEED it tonight.
So you basically use your professional judgment right? Does the pharmacy manager have the right to be mad at a staff pharmacist for refusing to take 4 scripts at 10 mins to closing with a long line behind the patient? It was so busy and I was working with one tech. I have stayed behind several times in the past if we are not busy but last night was very hectic and it was 10 mins to closing. We directed the guy to the 24 hrs store 5 mins away but he was still mad and left a complaint.
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Someone called once and said he was on his way with a script from the ER that he had to have right then!! We waited... It was children's ibuprofen suspension. The script was 5 months old. WTF. Never again.
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Manager sounds like a douche. You aren't required to stay one minute after your time, and it sounds like you would've been staying 10 minutes or so past. I wouldn't feel bad about what you did at all, the patient was still given service. I've had people bang on the window when we're closed for childrens antibiotics, I filled that one. Anything else and I would've told them to go somewhere else.
Why would that be an issue? It's not like you're closing, the other pharmacist can take care of them if it's not finished by the time you leave.
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Depends on the drug really. There are 24 hour pharmacies people can go to if they need their meds. I would never make my techs stay though if I chose to fill something after closing hours. I wonder if there are any liability concerns with filling after store hours.
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I disagree... at least for CVS, we are require to stay after provided we used professional judgment since we are salaried employees. For antibiotics and pain meds, I would stay late even if the pharmacy was closed. If the pharmacy was open.., I would fill any amount of scripts even if I am closing in a minute. If the pharmacy was closed..., and the customer comes running in a few minutes after, I would give the guy a few pills, tell the guy to come back tomorrow, and input the scripts into the computer for tomorrow.
In thise case, the customer came 10 minutes before closing. The pharmacy was still open. The RPh should fill the script. As a customer, if I go to the pharmacy with my emergency meds, I am counting on my pharmacist to fill them. It is not my fault that the store was busy. If that was the case, why not turn away scripts 30 minutes before closing? an hour before closing? Why not just turn away scripts when ever it gets busy... Where does the slippery slope end?
However I would not expect the pharmacist to fill them if I got there late.
**** happens and that is why we are professionals. We are held to a higher standard.
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When I had my intern position, I worked with pharmacists that took prescriptions until the gates went down. Then worked on them with gates down until they were done. We were a 250 Rx/day, 9-9 M-F, 9/10-6 S/S location, so we didn't have too many coming in last minute.
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If someone is coming to you retail pharm with scripts they are never truely emergency scripts. If the patient required the med in an emergency situation they never would have left the hosp/Er/Etc. Short of some odd post outpatient surgery pain med I can't think of one situation in which a patient will present an "emergency rx" at closing time. Patients create their own "emergencies" (waiting until the 11th to get their bowl prep kit for example) but I'm not staying late because a person waiting 3 weeks to get a script they need filled for tomorrow
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Most meds are not emergencies. However, there are many acute meds in addition to pain medications. Valtrex, Tamiflu, Zovirax oint, Lysteda, etc.
Other meds help resolve un-pleasantries faster... diflucan? zpack? Flonase?
Emergency is subjective to the general population. A lot of these situations can be solved if the people have better time management. Unfortunately, people don't which is why the world is in such a shamble. I wont be a hypocrite because I have a gazillion things going on too and always end up mailing my parking ticket after the mail by date...
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I disagree. In Massachusetts it is against a law to provide pharmacy services outside of the posted hours.
...that being said, there is another law that let's you break the first one in cases of emergency/potential patient harm/subjective criteria.
My two cents as an ex rxm if the gate is open and the patient wants it fill it. Even if it's 2 minutes after. If you politely remind them of closing time and they still indicate they want to wait, most likely they will complain if you don't. Not worth the hassle. Plus your rxm's review, raise, and bonus might depend on customer review scores and a few low ones can cost him/her money due to the typically low number of responses. Not to mention a phone call from the supervisor blaming them for not informing their staff of the importance of customer service. And being known for good customer service is like always having a get out of jail free card in retail. So just bury that frustration deep down inside next time and smile and say no problem.
