http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.co...Article/detail/685899?contextCategoryId=47558
"Employees at the center can also donate a portion of their paychecks each pay period to an employee-run assistance fund that the pharmacy can tap into when patients can't afford their medication"
Thanks douchebag. Oh yeah, owlegrad is so smart with his witty response. He's so caught up studying and wants to be the best, damn pharmacist he can be, so he does everything he can to be smart and rational.
Wait, how can I blame owlegrad? It's the culture of academia and generally, people who went to feel "supreme" to the common masses.dasopfajdspof Where intelligence is prized and stupidity scorned. Can't blame you man; it happens to nearly all of "us." But think more deeply before you respond next time. Don't assume.
I admit I could have made the title of the post better.
I was just having a little fun. Have a sense of humor will you? I wouldn't have been so glib if you had posed the question in a more serious way. Suggesting that "we" should pay for their medication or direct them to a cheaper pharmacy are perhaps the two worst ideas I can come up with. Why not just give it away for free?
Your post is all over the place but here goes:
If you want to buy your patient's medication for them, be my guest. Interesting article; I wonder how many pharmacists participate in the wage garnishing program? I can't imagine listening to my patient's complain/rudeness all day AND pay for their medication willingly out of my own pocket, but their you go.
I don't know what makes you think I am a smart and rational person or how you can consider those traits to be bad. I also am not sure what you are accusing me of assuming? I think you are assuming that I assumed something. Actually the amount of stuff you are assuming about me is mind-numbing.
Are you saying intelligence should not be praised? Or that stupidity should be praised? I don't know what you are getting at here.
Do I think I am superior to "the masses"? No. I don't consider myself to be better than anyone else. Am I a smart ass? Oh goodness yes. It's what gets me through the day.
Because you obviously really care about saving your patients money here are some tips (I will try to hold the smart ass comments):
1) You can suggest cheaper pharmacies as you point out. This is a terrible idea, but go for it. The problem here is this encourages poly-pharmacy. But if money is the biggest concern it may be the only choice.
2) Suggest to your patients enrolling in patient assistance programs. All major drug manufacturers have them; some are actually very good. I know at CVS you can access patient assistance programs from "professional resources - RxAssist". I am sure Walgreens has something similar. I did this for several patients; many of them were very thankful. I also had patients almost punch me when I suggested an assistance program. Some people are very sensitive about this
even as they are complaining about their medication costing too much and asking (demanding) me to lower the price.
3) Transfer coupons. We hate them, but it is money in the customer's pocket. Also encourages poly-pharmacy, but what are you gonna do? If money is the only concern it may help.
I don't recommend 1 or 3 for obvious reasons. Besides poly-pharmacy it also degrades the profession. But if they work for you go for it.
I really do like #2. I have seen it work several times and patients are usual very grateful. Allot of paperwork for the patient though (usually one page); many simply will not fill out a single form in order to be able to afford their medication. But for the right patients they are a God-send. I will tell you right now though you are gonna need allot of tact if you are gonna try to help people out financially. People are very sensitive about this and often are offended by any suggestion of needing assistance.
