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I was perusing the want ads today and noticed an ad for a mail-order pharmacy that need help. (Licensed pharmacists only, alas.) Anybody ever worked in one of these places? What's it like?
Mail-order pharmacy?
- Thread starter Modnar
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I've never worked for one, but I can take a pretty good guess: a sweatshop. They want to crank out as many scripts as possible in the absolute shortest time, with the least amount of help. Virtually no patient contact, scrpit volumes through the roof, etc. Turning a pharmacist into a true "pill pusher". I'd avoid it, but that's just my guess.
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No, it doesn't work that way.
It's worse....
Pharmacists are not relegated to filling. That's a tech's job. There are only about 3 things that pharmacist's do in the mail order facility, be a walking signature and data entry.
Walking signature: Since all meds are either autofilled or tech filled, the pharmacists are ordered to verify all med correctness. They sit on stools while a conveyor belt dumps totes out to them. When they are done, the pharmacist places the tote on another conveyor belt to go to shipping. At the current time, WAG's mail-order quota is 2-3 bottles a minute. That means roughly 180/hour. It's mindless labor.
Data entry: All those scripts that are mailed in have to be entered and verified by someone. A tech enters the Rx and the pharmacists gets dumped a batch tote to verify. Each Rx must be manually initialed like the community. Problem Rx's are placed down a separate line to be rectified. I think quota is 1 Rx a minute now up from 0.5 a couple of years back.
Problem-solving: Because of OBRA '90, counseling still must take place. There are pharmacists who spend their shifts manning the phones and calling patients to counsel them on their medications. Since HIPPA, they direct them to call the 1-800 number if they can't reach them. They also settle the problem scripts that come through.
It's worse....
Pharmacists are not relegated to filling. That's a tech's job. There are only about 3 things that pharmacist's do in the mail order facility, be a walking signature and data entry.
Walking signature: Since all meds are either autofilled or tech filled, the pharmacists are ordered to verify all med correctness. They sit on stools while a conveyor belt dumps totes out to them. When they are done, the pharmacist places the tote on another conveyor belt to go to shipping. At the current time, WAG's mail-order quota is 2-3 bottles a minute. That means roughly 180/hour. It's mindless labor.
Data entry: All those scripts that are mailed in have to be entered and verified by someone. A tech enters the Rx and the pharmacists gets dumped a batch tote to verify. Each Rx must be manually initialed like the community. Problem Rx's are placed down a separate line to be rectified. I think quota is 1 Rx a minute now up from 0.5 a couple of years back.
Problem-solving: Because of OBRA '90, counseling still must take place. There are pharmacists who spend their shifts manning the phones and calling patients to counsel them on their medications. Since HIPPA, they direct them to call the 1-800 number if they can't reach them. They also settle the problem scripts that come through.
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Sweatshops are where you find them in hospital, retail, LTC, and home healthcare. Take care when you find that cozy position in the tiny fifty bed hospital that closes at 8PM. In a one pharmacist facility the nursing supervisor has you by the beeper. It is a short leash and gets old in a hurry. Pray that she is sharp and friendly. A grump that can't find her way out of a paper bag with a roadmap can be your nemesis.
Financial solvency is a major concern. In two decades I have had two hospitals and one retail position turn tango uniform underneath me. One in particular was cut off by all the wholesalers for non-payment of bills. The director scored 13 grand worth of Mezlin which we didn't need from a green drug rep which we used to barter with other facilities for drugs we did need. I cashed my last paycheck from them at the bank it was drawn on to make sure it didn't bounce.
The trend is toward consolidation. Half a dozen large companies gobbling up these ailing facilities. My worry is that you will end up with one gigantic Colombia/Walgreens conglomerate being the only show in town nationally. They take sweatshop to new vistas.
At least today you can go across the street.
In this DRG HMO bean counting profit centered environment pharmacists get weary, caught between the consumer management and the law. Mail order starts looking pretty good.
Yes it is a factory with supervisors conveyorbelts and quotas.
But you can come to work in jeans and running shoes and wear your walkman. It pays well and division of attention (read that interruptions) is minimized. Your LIABILITY EXPOSURE goes way down. Just like corperations, pharmacists as individuals must engage in risk management. There is a fine line between busy and dangerous. Everyone has their own threshold for this imaginary line. Know it when you see it and don't hesitate to jump ship.
The mail order and nightshift positions tend to be populated by older folk who are done saving the world. Leave the fire eatiing to the young turks. In fact it was a standing joke about management positions. The extra money you made was enough to pay for the blood pressure medication you would need. So we either draw straws to see who gets to be director (short straw loses) or dole it out by senority - new guy gets the job. This tongue in cheek cynical view has more than a kernal of truth in it.
Gallows humor is rampant among healthcare workers. Ask the baby doctors (oops, residents)
Financial solvency is a major concern. In two decades I have had two hospitals and one retail position turn tango uniform underneath me. One in particular was cut off by all the wholesalers for non-payment of bills. The director scored 13 grand worth of Mezlin which we didn't need from a green drug rep which we used to barter with other facilities for drugs we did need. I cashed my last paycheck from them at the bank it was drawn on to make sure it didn't bounce.
The trend is toward consolidation. Half a dozen large companies gobbling up these ailing facilities. My worry is that you will end up with one gigantic Colombia/Walgreens conglomerate being the only show in town nationally. They take sweatshop to new vistas.
At least today you can go across the street.
In this DRG HMO bean counting profit centered environment pharmacists get weary, caught between the consumer management and the law. Mail order starts looking pretty good.
Yes it is a factory with supervisors conveyorbelts and quotas.
But you can come to work in jeans and running shoes and wear your walkman. It pays well and division of attention (read that interruptions) is minimized. Your LIABILITY EXPOSURE goes way down. Just like corperations, pharmacists as individuals must engage in risk management. There is a fine line between busy and dangerous. Everyone has their own threshold for this imaginary line. Know it when you see it and don't hesitate to jump ship.
The mail order and nightshift positions tend to be populated by older folk who are done saving the world. Leave the fire eatiing to the young turks. In fact it was a standing joke about management positions. The extra money you made was enough to pay for the blood pressure medication you would need. So we either draw straws to see who gets to be director (short straw loses) or dole it out by senority - new guy gets the job. This tongue in cheek cynical view has more than a kernal of truth in it.
Gallows humor is rampant among healthcare workers. Ask the baby doctors (oops, residents)
