If you love your pharmacy job

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I despise those of you that have jobs (and are not in school)... Your ability to live life as you wish, to pursue happiness, to be free from therapeutics exams makes me sick.

I find it difficult to hide my envy 🙁

My end-of-year-exam "week" kicks off in 1.5 hrs - where did all of the motivation go 😕
 
Well i am finishing up my 2nd year of residency and have one foot out the door...hopefully I will like my new job...and I generally like my job now depending on the service i am on

By the way Z...how you treat klebsiella pneu thats resistant to colistin
 
By the way Z...how you treat klebsiella pneu thats resistant to colistin


Surgery to remove the infection. J/K


Colistin should be used in combo even if the panel shows resistance to say..penems. I would throw in a carbapenem, Aminoglycoside, and colistin all together.
 
I despise those of you that have jobs (and are not in school)... Your ability to live life as you wish, to pursue happiness, to be free from therapeutics exams makes me sick.

I find it difficult to hide my envy 🙁

My end-of-year-exam "week" kicks off in 1.5 hrs - where did all of the motivation go 😕


hey hey...if you don't love your job, you can't post here!!


Ok...when I graduated, there were no jobs. I did not have a job lined up. Heck...I couldn't even get on with Longs or Savons.. and Wal-mart wouldn't even talk to me. Looking back, I'm so glad retail chains shunned me.
 
I like my pharmacy job. It pays double what I would be making if I were a retail tech. 🙂
 
For the most part I really like my job. I will be sad to leave and go for residency.
 
In all seriousness...surplus/down economy/increased selectivity just provides a better setting to those who work hard (and smart) and are willing to put in the effort to succeed.

If you think having a cushiony pharmacist job is a "right", think again.

But for those of you who know how to stand out from the crowd...you've got no reason to worry. Qualified, skilled pharmacists will never have a problem. In fact, this is the perfect time to set yourself apart from those who saw the career option as a cake walk to big bucks. Bring'em on.
 
In all seriousness...surplus/down economy/increased selectivity just provides a better setting to those who work hard (and smart) and are willing to put in the effort to succeed.

If you think having a cushiony pharmacist job is a "right", think again.

But for those of you who know how to stand out from the crowd...you've got no reason to worry. Qualified, skilled pharmacists will never have a problem. In fact, this is the perfect time to set yourself apart from those who saw the career option as a cake walk to big bucks. Bring'em on.


That's too much work yo!
 
i like working retail
i really do

love the fast pace, love the fact i get to see more people that i can counsel on their meds

too bad my employer doesnt see it tat way

so i like what i do, but the rules from the higher ups are limiting what i like to do (if tat makes any sense?)

hence im looking to jump ship
 
I really don't like mine. Just biding my time until the economy bounces back.
 
I don't know if I LOVE my job.. I don't want to marry it or have it's children... but I do really really really like it...😍
 
I love my job. CPOE implementation is a bit challenging, but hope it will make everyone's life easy~
 
I love my job. CPOE implementation is a bit challenging, but hope it will make everyone's life easy~


You're a student and you're involved with CPOE implementation?

That's awesome. 👍

You'll be highly sought after.
 
Best golf instruction ever

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You're a student and you're involved with CPOE implementation?

That's awesome. 👍

You'll be highly sought after.

I am not a student anymore, finally done with school. I was a computer programmer with a very strong database management skill, so I am actively involved in CPOE implementation. My official title has been a pharmacy IT specialist, but it will soon be changed to an informatics pharmacist.

Z... A couple of questions for you...

Do you know anything about 340B program? What is the ballpark of possible monthly savings for 200 beds hospital?

Also, what would be the best way to handle ED orders? TJC requires 100% compliance of verification before administration. The only way to handle is to have a pharmacist in ED, but most of small to medium hospitals can't afford ED pharmacist.
 
Z...

Do you know anything about 340B program? What is the ballpark of possible monthly savings for 200 beds hospital?

Yup..know lots about it.

It depends on if you dispense many 340B drugs such as outpatient oncology drugs. The ballpark figure savings is around 30% for those drugs.

You will also qualify for inpatient DSH pricing for some drugs which may have more discounts.

You qualify for 340B...you'll save money. Simple.
 
What would be the best way to handle ED orders? TJC requires 100% compliance of verification before administration. The only way to handle is to have a pharmacist in ED, but most of small to medium hospitals can't afford ED pharmacist.


I believe TJC eased up on that a bit...... you're right, how are you going to have 24 hour pharmacist coverage?
 
I am not a student anymore, finally done with school. I was a computer programmer with a very strong database management skill, so I am actively involved in CPOE implementation. My official title has been a pharmacy IT specialist, but it will soon be changed to an informatics pharmacist.

Z... A couple of questions for you...

Do you know anything about 340B program? What is the ballpark of possible monthly savings for 200 beds hospital?

Also, what would be the best way to handle ED orders? TJC requires 100% compliance of verification before administration. The only way to handle is to have a pharmacist in ED, but most of small to medium hospitals can't afford ED pharmacist.

BULLSH^& !!!!!!!!!!!!! you have already turned into an admin....
 
Z...since all these pharmds have decided to ditch and go MD, PA etc..how did you resist
 
I believe TJC eased up on that a bit...... you're right, how are you going to have 24 hour pharmacist coverage?

We don't even have any night time pharmacist. Currently, we use the cardinal outsource for after hour coverage (after 10pm). It costs a lot, but extremely difficult to find a night time pharmacist who can handle everything by him/herself. ED orders also go to E source as well. Not sure what the best way is... Just wondered if you have handled differently.
 
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Yup..know lots about it.

It depends on if you dispense many 340B drugs such as outpatient oncology drugs. The ballpark figure savings is around 30% for those drugs.

You will also qualify for inpatient DSH pricing for some drugs which may have more discounts.

You qualify for 340B...you'll save money. Simple.

But we use broadband, so we do have our special contracted price. 340B requires very high maintenance and not sure if it is worth of spending my time that much on this program every week.
 
haha... sorry but I do want to be a CPO eventually.

thats fine but i strongly disagree with the statement that they can not afford it...maybe they cant fill it with a body due to the hours, rural area etc but afford it....that is BS
 
We don't even have any night time pharmacist. Currently, we use the cardinal outsource for after hour coverage (after 10pm). It costs a lot, but extremely difficult to find a night time pharmacist who can handle everything by him/herself. ED orders also go to E source as well. Not sure what the best way is... Just wondered if you have handled any differently.


Lord...why would you use the most expensive off hour remote order entry service????? You guys have money to give a way?

We try to get ED pharmacist where we can. Yet most of our facilities have not received an RFI for the lack of pharmacist oversight on ED med orders. I do think TJC has eased up on it. I could be wrong. I will check with our regulatory affairs folks.
 
Easy... I'm really lazy and don't want to work more than 40 hours per week... :laugh:

hhaha....well good to hear someone has made it....just talked to our ID attending today..we are starting a stewardship program and the hospital only approved him to run it...they couldnt afford a "pharmd"....he said well thats great here is your contract back and tell me when you can "afford" 2 of them....it was a great stance by an MD...

lemme know if you ever need transplant consulting
 
by the way i added doripenem per your consult earlier....4 hour infusion...signed VORB Z
 
But we use broadband, so we do have our special contracted price. 340B requires very high maintenance and not sure if it is worth of spending my time that much on this program every week.

You mean broadlane? It doesn't matter which GPO you have. If you qualify for 340B it's worth every minute of your effort to get it. GPO contract doesn't even come close to 340B pricing.

Neulasta could cost you $2,800 without 340B and $1,650 with 340B. That's just one example...

Get 340B.
 
yeah ID loved it...hope it works too...this guy is not looking good
 
hhaha....well good to hear someone has made it....just talked to our ID attending today..we are starting a stewardship program and the hospital only approved him to run it...they couldnt afford a "pharmd"....he said well thats great here is your contract back and tell me when you can "afford" 2 of them....it was a great stance by an MD...

lemme know if you ever need transplant consulting


Well, ABS is a performance improvement program therefore, you need to be able to quantify, measure, and track progress of the program. You need baseline antibiotic cost per patient day for each and every meaning ful antibiotic then use your antibiogram as the baseline susceptibility measure.

The goal is to reduce resistance, increase susceptibility, and decrease abx cost... I hope y'all hire experienced ID who understands the financial side of the ABS..and I can tell you there is not a ID fellowship in the country that teaches that. I'm having to teach our IDs the program....
 
thats fine but i strongly disagree with the statement that they can not afford it...maybe they cant fill it with a body due to the hours, rural area etc but afford it....that is BS

Well, in order to cover ED orders per TJC requirement, we need 4 pharmacists (2 day time and 2 night time). We are 200 beds hospital with about 200~250 ED orders a day (24 hours). It may be BS for you, other clinicians or patients, but it is a reality that Rx department can't convince the upper management or HR to hire 4 pharmacists just for ED. I guess I should have stated differently.
 
You mean broadlane? It doesn't matter which GPO you have. If you qualify for 340B it's worth every minute of your effort to get it. GPO contract doesn't even come close to 340B pricing.

Neulasta could cost you $2,800 without 340B and $1,650 with 340B. That's just one example...

Get 340B.

As always, thank you for the advice, sir!!
 
I wish I was an ED pharmacist. If there was a staffing position I was made for, that'd be it.

And where the hell do I find this magical land where MDs enjoy working with PharmDs? Here they just ignore me and wish I wasn't here. Even after I save their ass. Kinda like that scene in Schindler's List where that Jewish chick with an engineering background told them that the house's foundation was going to collapse...then they shot her in the head for speaking out of line...then tore the building down and rebuilt based upon her recommendation, anyway. They just didn't want a Jew to be given any sort of credit of comfort for doing anything positive. Same thing.
 
As always, thank you for the advice, sir!!


Do this. Go to your wholesaler's website and download your past 12 months purchase. Top Dollar Down 100%...not 80/20. Then contact broadland and get the pricing list for 340B drugs. This list will be hard to obtain.

Reconcile the 2 and see what kind of cost savings you'll gain... heck, I would do it for your for a lunch...but that would be a conflict of interest on my part.. :meanie:
 
Do this. Go to your wholesaler's website and download your past 12 months purchase. Top Dollar Down 100%...not 80/20. Then contact broadland and get the pricing list for 340B drugs. This list will be hard to obtain.

Reconcile the 2 and see what kind of cost savings you'll gain... heck, I would do it for your for a lunch...but that would be a conflict of interest on my part.. :meanie:

We have a buyer that does all of the 340B stuff and other procurement duties mostly full time. Throw in how much the hospital saves by running the employee prescription benefit through 340B, we save the joint several MILLION a year. And our census is usually about 130-150. 220 hospital at max census. 😱
 
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