Mail order pharmacy

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FruitFly

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What are your views? Is it a safe way to fill Rxs? Wouldn't there be storage issues with such a method of obtaining prescriptions by shipment?
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Having spent several months working on my days off for a mail order place I can give you a few of my personal opinions:

I don't really think that it is safe to be verifying 1000's of rx's in a shift, and despite the fact that they claimed things were 'triple' checked (input, labeling, final verify) I would still see both techs and Rph's looking like they were about to nod off due to the sheer boredom of mundane labor nonstop for an entire shift (I did even find some people sleeping at times, or at least 'resting their eyes')

On shipment, I don't really like the idea of the risks of extreme heat/cold exposure (particularly for large molec. wt biochemical molecule drugs like insulin, byetta, xalatan, etc) ie: how many times has an RX package sat in a mail box at either 0 or 100 degrees F, and how efficacious will it be after such an exposure. I'm sure some mail order guru will come on here an argue with this, but I can't really see how fool proof the shipping methods are, unless they are to be kept @ UPS/USPS/FEDEX for p/u in somewhat of a controlled environment. They would claim that all insulins/etc would be packaged well enought to withstand XX exposure for however long, but honestly how can you be assured that someone will get their mail out on a nasty day in a prompt manner?

Final note was it seemed that they could care less about the customer/patient and were merely there to minimize costs; too many people were SOL if they didn't get everything called/mailed in on time/early; I was nice to get the extra hours but clearly mail order, though perhaps useful in some ways, is a big problem for our profession (a point which has been stated for decades, also it has perhaps paved the way to justifying WAG power/central fill/automation, etc; b/c if u can justify this mass dispensing effort, really the only thing keeping us employed is the laws written that state an Rph must be present to dispense to final user)

Well that got a bit long, sorry; but an interesting point for discussion that you bring up, particularly on the shipment issue

J
 
Easy way for prescription abusers to bypass the human contact aspect of the con in my opinion. In addition, after having friends who've worked for UPS, I don't think I would feel comfortable with myself or my family's medication being shipped by them.

I still prefer to get my medication from a friendly face and will definitely be that friendly face for patients in the future.
 
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The times I've called mail order places, I've been underwhelmed by the idiots they employed.

Once I got a med rec home med sheet signed off by a physician where he ordered both atenolol and metoprolol (because he didn't read the damn thing...)

I call the mail order pharmacy to ask which one the patient is one. The "pharmacist" on the other end goes "oh, they are on both." I then say "Uh...yeah...the same physician?" And the other person goes..."no, two different docs." I just sat there silent for like 15 seconds. "Ok...so you got two scripts for two different beta-blackers from two different physicians and you filled them both." *pause* "Let me get you a manager."

I can laugh in retrospect...at least the damned med rec sheet had a use for once...
 
bump!
Here is a good thread...Can someone tell me more about this wonderful profession? 🙂 Is a mail order position hard to come by?
 
SHC1984 said:
bump!
Here is a good thread...Can someone tell me more about this wonderful profession? 🙂 Is a mail order position hard to come by?
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No. However, they are the worst jobs in the industry. You are essentially a professional label-scanner. I'm pretty sure its where all of the idiots you know in school will wind up.
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
No. However, they are the worst jobs in the industry. You are essentially a professional label-scanner. I'm pretty sure its where all of the idiots you know in school will wind up.
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I am considering either mail order or a hospital staff position. After working at Walgreens for 6 months I decided that dealing (kissing a**) with rude/impatient customers is not my cup of tea. :laugh:

Mail Order is the LEAST stressful job right?
 
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SHC1984 said:
I am considering either mail order or a hospital staff position. After working at Walgreens for 6 months I decided that dealing (kissing a**) with rude/impatient customers is not my cup of tea. :laugh:

Mail Order is the LEAST stressful job right?
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If you're looking for a low amount of stress, hospital staffing is NOT going to do it for you. The stresses are different than retail, but they're still stressful...and a lot more urgent.
 
SHC1984 said:
I am considering either mail order or a hospital staff position. After working at Walgreens for 6 months I decided that dealing (kissing a**) with rude/impatient customers is not my cup of tea. :laugh:

Mail Order is the LEAST stressful job right?
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🙄
 
ForgetMeNot said:
I don't see any labels at work. 😀
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How do you like working mail order? Do you recommend it for someone that wants a low stress enviroment?
 
SHC1984 said:
How do you like working mail order? Do you recommend it for someone that wants a low stress enviroment?
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i thought having a government job or being a nuclear pharmacist was relatively low stress.
 
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SHC1984 said:
How do you like working mail order? Do you recommend it for someone that wants a low stress enviroment?
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I like my job. Some days I like better than others, but you'll get that with everything. I don't ever come home feeling stressed from work, which is quite the change from when I worked retail.
 
ForgetMeNot said:
I like my job. Some days I like better than others, but you'll get that with everything. I don't ever come home feeling stressed from work, which is quite the change from when I worked retail.
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But do you feel satisfied that you did something worth doing, other than getting a paycheck? Not bashing, just honestly asking.
 
ForgetMeNot said:
I like my job. Some days I like better than others, but you'll get that with everything. I don't ever come home feeling stressed from work, which is quite the change from when I worked retail.
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I like what I am hearing...I figure mail order will be the least stressful.

Can you choose to only verify scripts OR do you have to rotate around...meaning one week you verify scripts, the next week you answer the phone, next week you fix insurance or fill all day etc. I prefer just verifing scripts, but do you get that option? Can you choose to just do ONE thing? (Actually I don't mind doing anything except answering the phone...the less I have to deal with people the happier I will be!)

Is the pay the SAME as retail?

What do you like least about your job? what do you like the most about it?

thanks!
 
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I think, given a choice, I'd rather work mail order than retail. At least with mail order, no one will come and argue with you how "something i read on the internet" >>> your 4 year PharmD + peer-reviewed studies....and if you disagree, they'll just give the idiot a gift card and punish you for it.
 
confettiflyer said:
I think, given a choice, I'd rather work mail order than retail. At least with mail order, no one will come and argue with you how "something i read on the internet" >>> your 4 year PharmD + peer-reviewed studies....and if you disagree, they'll just give the idiot a gift card and punish you for it.
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When I was forced into doing a rotation at a mail order joint, we'd get those phone calls, too. Don't forget, you have to have someone man the phones to counsel...god bless them...they deserve the huge salaries they make...
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
When I was forced into doing a rotation at a mail order joint, we'd get those phone calls, too. Don't forget, you have to have someone man the phones to counsel...god bless them...they deserve the huge salaries they make...
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Can you choose to do everything else EXCEPT answering the phones? or is that not a option? I just want a job that does not involve dealing with the public at all. When I was working at Walgreens they would make me remove each bottle, dust the shelf, vaccuum the floor, take out the trash...I would rather dust the shelves, take out the trash and vaccum the floor 100X a day then deal with idiots. Thats the worst part about any job. 🙄
 
Passion4Sci said:
Staff pharmacy in a hospital is what you need SHC.

They have zero intxn with pt's / public. Zero.
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+1

I will look into that. If they don't require a residency then sign me up! :laugh:
 
Passion4Sci said:
Staff pharmacy in a hospital is what you need SHC.

They have zero intxn with pt's / public. Zero.
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But there will be a much higher level of interaction with other healthcare professionals such as nurses, physicians, dieticians, etc.

You can't run from "communication" in pharmacy.
 
I have a phone at my desk, but I only occasionally use it to phone physician offices. There is a whole set of pharmacists that are on the phone for counseling/drug questions. I could never do that job.
 
StaviZFingerZ said:
But there will be a much higher level of interaction with other healthcare professionals such as nurses, physicians, dieticians, etc.

You can't run from "communication" in pharmacy.
Click to expand...

How about industry?
 
ForgetMeNot said:
I have a phone at my desk, but I only occasionally use it to phone physician offices. There is a whole set of pharmacists that are on the phone for counseling/drug questions. I could never do that job.
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+10000

Can I have your job please? 😀 Is your job very hard to get? I will make sure to unplug the phone when I am working! LOL...
 
SHC1984 said:
How about industry?
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Unless you're a lab rat, I would think industry work will require more interaction and communication than you can imagine.

Do you not like talking to people?
 
StaviZFingerZ said:
Unless you're a lab rat, I would think industry work will require more interaction and communication than you can imagine.

Do you not like talking to people?
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I love talking to my friends and family, but listening to strangers b*tch about 10 dollar copays, while I have 100+ rx to fill? NO, I do not. :laugh:

I like talking to friends/family at soical gathering/parties...but at work I prefer a peaceful, low stress environment. 🙂
 
Passion4Sci said:
Not a single one of the staffers at my hospital needed a PGY residency.
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According to Praziquantel86 (look at his above post), states that a hospital staffer job is very stress...I will look into it though.

However right now ForgetmeNot has the best job on this forum. 🙂
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
No. However, they are the worst jobs in the industry. You are essentially a professional label-scanner. I'm pretty sure its where all of the idiots you know in school will wind up.
Click to expand...

That's not true. Mail order positions are hard to come by. Retail pharmacists all flock to them.
 
SHC1984 said:
According to Praziquantel86 (look at his above post), states that a hospital staffer job is very stress...I will look into it though.

However right now ForgetmeNot has the best job on this forum. 🙂
Click to expand...

Stressful, sure. But you get to be cloistered away from any public interaction.
 
Passion4Sci said:
Stressful, sure. But you get to be cloistered away from any public interaction.
Click to expand...

True, you are right. If I am not lucky enough to get a stress free job like ForgetMeNot than a hospital staffer job will be my next choice. 🙂
 
SHC1984 said:
True, you are right. If I am not lucky enough to get a stress free job like ForgetMeNot than a hospital staffer job will be my next choice. 🙂
Click to expand...

Oh, good grief. What makes you think that wouldn't be stressful?

Pharmacy isn't an easy, make the big bucks, and out the door type of job. I have a feeling you're going to be sorely disappointed if that's what you're expecting.
 
SpirivaSunrise said:
Oh, good grief. What makes you think that wouldn't be stressful?

Pharmacy isn't an easy, make the big bucks, and out the door type of job. I have a feeling you're going to be sorely disappointed if that's what you're expecting.
Click to expand...

According to ForgetMeNot mail order is an awesome job with low stress, but you are right I will have to experience it first hand to know for sure.
 
StaviZFingerZ said:
How do you know this?
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I PREFER NO interaction with anyone PERIOD at work, but if I had to choose btw annoying customers and doctors I would choose doctors.
 
SHC1984 said:
I PREFER NO interaction with anyone PERIOD at work, but if I had to choose btw annoying customers and doctors I would choose doctors.
Click to expand...


Annoying professionals such as nurses and physicians can be much worse to deal with than public..
 
SHC1984 said:
I PREFER NO interaction with anyone PERIOD at work, but if I had to choose btw annoying customers and doctors I would choose doctors.
Click to expand...

So you would rather be chewed out by an "annoying" Attending/Nurse, etc. than public over $10 copay?

But honestly, not to point out the elephant in the room...but if you want no interaction whatsoever at work...why did you choose this field?
 
StaviZFingerZ said:
Annoying professionals such as nurses and physicians can be much worse to deal with than public..
Click to expand...

Yeah I heard nurses are b*tches. And I honestly prefer to deal with NO ONE...if I can go to work and not hear anything except for my IPOD I will be very happy! :laugh: Hence why I need a job like ForgetMeNot. I think if I can get a job like hers I will even be willing to relocate to Montana! :laugh:
 
Praziquantel86 said:
But do you feel satisfied that you did something worth doing, other than getting a paycheck? Not bashing, just honestly asking.
Click to expand...

im in retail, only reason i did it is for the paycheck

and i'll be bouncing out in a few months
 
SpirivaSunrise said:
So you would rather be chewed out by an "annoying" Attending/Nurse, etc. than public over $10 copay?

But honestly, not to point out the elephant in the room...but if you want no interaction whatsoever at work...why did you choose this field?
Click to expand...

B/c I haven't found a job that pays more than pharmacy AND gives an option to have NO interaction with people. At least with pharmacy I can choose mail order. I can't say the same thing for other jobs.
 
lorain said:
im in retail, only reason i did it is for the paycheck

and i'll be bouncing out in a few months
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I think EVERYONE does retail for the paycheck only...you will be hard pressed to ever find a pharmacist that actually enjoys retail pharmacy. :laugh:
 
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