Managed care pharmacist job interview

[Newpharmacist]

I am a retail pharmacist , for 5 years now, currently working for the worst chain in the industry . Trying to make way into hospital / managed care. Also have a Bachelors in Pharmacy not pharm D.
Just got a interview call from a small PBM. I have no experience in managed care let alone a residency. Can someone give me some guidance on how to prep for the interview ?

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[Newpharmacist]

Mountain D?? Someone please respond.. TIA

 

[anewmanx]

Well, I'm not a pharmacist, and have no idea what to tell you for the interview.

Without a residency or the clinical training a Pharmd gets I don't really know what your strengths could be in the interview. You could always try honesty; state that you're tired of retail and want to get into something else. Focus on the knowledge you do have, compounding, toxicology, etc... focus on your knowledge of the sciences and tell them you're willing to work hard to become the right fit for the job.

Of course, my advice might be total crap. If it is, perhaps it will spur someone else in here who knows what they're talking about to actually provide you with useful advice.

Good luck.

 

[OSU2017]

Well, I'm not a pharmacist, and have no idea what to tell you for the interview.

Without a residency or the clinical training a Pharmd gets I don't really know what your strengths could be in the interview. You could always try honesty; state that you're tired of retail and want to get into something else. Focus on the knowledge you do have, compounding, toxicology, etc... focus on your knowledge of the sciences and tell them you're willing to work hard to become the right fit for the job.

Of course, my advice might be total crap. If it is, perhaps it will spur someone else in here who knows what they're talking about to actually provide you with useful advice.

Good luck.

Why post this if you have no idea what you're talking about?

 

[anewmanx]

Why post this if you have no idea what you're talking about?

See below:

Of course, my advice might be total crap. If it is, perhaps it will spur someone else in here who knows what they're talking about to actually provide you with useful advice.

 

[JustAnotherRph]

What position are interviewing for in managed care? Both my previous employer and current employer did not care about Pharm. D status nor residency.

If you are interviewing for a prior authorization pharmacist position, you may need to discuss any items about drug therapy look up. You see many different types of drugs that you never even through of in retail and reading clinical treatment guidelines and journals is standard practice. I do not have a residency, but I do have a Pharm D. and started out as a prior authorization pharmacist.

Some PBMS have verification roles. Retail will make you very suitable for this job since you are just verifying mailed in prescriptions that the pharmcy technician typed in. There is also production positions where you make sure the right pill is in the right bottle in a conveyor belt system. You don't need any special skills for this position.

Let me know if you need anymore help.

 

[JustAnotherRph]

Well, I'm not a pharmacist, and have no idea what to tell you for the interview.

Without a residency or the clinical training a Pharmd gets I don't really know what your strengths could be in the interview. You could always try honesty; state that you're tired of retail and want to get into something else. Focus on the knowledge you do have, compounding, toxicology, etc... focus on your knowledge of the sciences and tell them you're willing to work hard to become the right fit for the job.

Of course, my advice might be total crap. If it is, perhaps it will spur someone else in here who knows what they're talking about to actually provide you with useful advice.

Good luck.

I do lurk on this site alot and do not post much. I always seem to see your name pop up giving advise to seniored pharmacists. I will tell you that if one of my pharmacy students questioned me as much as you did in my rotation, I would fail them immediately.

 

[anewmanx]

I do lurk on this site alot and do not post much. I always seem to see your name pop up giving advise to seniored pharmacists. I will tell you that if one of my pharmacy students questioned me as much as you did in my rotation, I would fail them immediately.

I enjoy inciting discussions; I don't always agree with everything I post. Often, I will say something contradictory just to see the responses I can create.

One would think you would be intelligent enough to see through that....

I'd also like to point out that it was the second day of this post sitting empty before I responded; intentionally trying to incite frustration so someone would pay attention and give this poor guy a response he could actually use.

I succeeded when you posted pertinent information. Fun! 🤣

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Of course, my advice might be total crap. If it is, perhaps it will spur someone else in here who knows what they're talking about to actually provide you with useful advice.

Good luck.

Hopefully you don't take this approach to your patients if you become a pharmacist

 

[Newpharmacist]

What position are interviewing for in managed care? Both my previous employer and current employer did not care about Pharm. D status nor residency.

If you are interviewing for a prior authorization pharmacist position, you may need to discuss any items about drug therapy look up. You see many different types of drugs that you never even through of in retail and reading clinical treatment guidelines and journals is standard practice. I do not have a residency, but I do have a Pharm D. and started out as a prior authorization pharmacist.

Some PBMS have verification roles. Retail will make you very suitable for this job since you are just verifying mailed in prescriptions that the pharmcy technician typed in. There is also production positions where you make sure the right pill is in the right bottle in a conveyor belt system. You don't need any special skills for this position.

Let me know if you need anymore help.

Thanks a lot for the advice!
It's a managed care health plan like meridian health plan. And I have zero knowledge of working of PBMs/ Managed care organizations .
Any tips on how to approach the interview? Prepping for it ?

 

[Ackj]

Hopefully you don't take this approach to your patients if you become a pharmacist

That could work. Give horrible OTC advice in retail, patient ends up in the hospital and finally gets a good answer to their question while they're inpatient.