respect for od vs pharmacist

[RLK]

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While in school I'm working at a pharmacy because it is something that I'm also considering going into. Last night at work, we had some very mean customers. They weren't really mean to me, but they were mean to the pharmacist.

Do you think that even though pharmacists may have a doctorate degree, that they don't get as much respect as an optometrist, chiropractor, or another a doctor that has a practice?

When I shadowed an optometrist, not one customer was rude or mean. Everyone was friendly and nice.

 

[cpw]

you still get the occasional rude person as an OD.. usually not because the person doesn't respect you, but because some people are just rude.

 

[katiemixtape]

I don't think the general public has any idea how much education and training it takes to be a pharmacist. They are just people who count pills and put them in bottles, right? And I've certainly never heard a pharmacist be addressed as Dr.______ the way that M.D.s, O.D.s, and D.D.S.s are. Maybe they need a good PR campaign.

 

[odstudent]

I don't think the general public has any idea how much education and training it takes to be a pharmacist. They are just people who count pills and put them in bottles, right? And I've certainly never heard a pharmacist be addressed as Dr.______ the way that M.D.s, O.D.s, and D.D.S.s are. Maybe they need a good PR campaign.

How long is pharmacy school?

 

[PharmDr.]

Pharm school is 4 yrs. The curriculum is not as intense though as opt.,dent,med. I was originally pre-pharm as I have been a CPhT. in retail and hospital as a iv/infusion tech for a few yrs., but it is not for me. I personally think optometry and dentistry are two great fields that many people overlook. Pharmacy is a great career for 6 yrs. of schooling b/c of the pay. Do not enter this profession if you have an interest in being a doctor. Even though new grads earn PharmD's, they do not do any doctor like duties, hence why most people do not consider them doctors. If you want a mind stimulating or use of stuff you learned in pharm school, go hospital/clinical. Good luck to you and if you have any questions about the pharmacy profession, send me a IM. 😉

 

[RLK]

I'm still looking for a backup in case I can't get in to optometry school. I'm kind of swaying away from pharmacy now. I think chiropractic would be pretty interesting too, but I'm afraid it would be too hard to make any money at it. There seems to be a billion chiropractors around here. Anyway, thanks for your opinions.

 

[PreOptMegs]

My father is a pharmacist, and I can only remember one occation of him being disrespected. We were at the hospital visiting a relative and the doctor came in and my uncle introduced my father as a registered pharmacist, and the doctor said, "oh well I feel sorry for you". I think it hurt my dad's feelings a bit because he said how he loves his job and wouldn't change it for the world. Anyway, just thought I'd throw my two cents in. By the way, I had always thought chiropracters were sort of the bottom of the food chain in respect?

 

[hflyer]

I've worked as an opt tech for the past 2 years. The OD never got disrespected, but I did!!! My coworkers and I have been yelled at more times than I can count. They complain about the price of contacts, insurance copays, contact lens RX expirations... the list goes on. Value your office staff, future ODs. 🙂

 

[redrabbit]

I've worked as an opt tech for the past 2 years. The OD never got disrespected, but I did!!! My coworkers and I have been yelled at more times than I can count. They complain about the price of contacts, insurance copays, contact lens RX expirations... the list goes on. Value your office staff, future ODs. 🙂

AGREE!!!! I get yelled at because the doctor had to take the day off to take her baby to the peds!!

 

[cpw]

I've worked as an opt tech for the past 2 years. The OD never got disrespected, but I did!!! My coworkers and I have been yelled at more times than I can count. They complain about the price of contacts, insurance copays, contact lens RX expirations... the list goes on. Value your office staff, future ODs. 🙂

yes, your office staff can make or break your office. (every good OD/MD/DDS knows this hopefully) 🙂 I had a patient when I was working before OD school in northern CA tell me "what do you know.. you're obviously a "know-nothing" high school drop out".

Fortunately the OD heard the elitist prick and told him I was actually a college grad with a degree in biochem who had two acceptances to OD school. (and then promptly dismissed the man from the office for good.... since no one talks to his staff that way). All that for trying to explain to this man how HIS insurance works!!! 😡

 

[RLK]

yes, your office staff can make or break your office. (every good OD/MD/DDS knows this hopefully) 🙂 I had a patient when I was working before OD school in northern CA tell me "what do you know.. you're obviously a "know-nothing" high school drop out".

Fortunately the OD heard the elitist prick and told him I was actually a college grad with a degree in biochem who had two acceptances to OD school. (and then promptly dismissed the man from the office for good.... since no one talks to his staff that way). All that for trying to explain to this man how HIS insurance works!!! 😡

I think that's what people need to do more often. Whether it's a doctor's office or a fast food chain, if the customer is a real prick tell them to get the hell out and not come back. I know you need customers, but it's just not worth being treated like garbage just to please someone.

 

[Sosumi]

While in school I'm working at a pharmacy because it is something that I'm also considering going into. Last night at work, we had some very mean customers. They weren't really mean to me, but they were mean to the pharmacist.

Do you think that even though pharmacists may have a doctorate degree, that they don't get as much respect as an optometrist, chiropractor, or another a doctor that has a practice?

When I shadowed an optometrist, not one customer was rude or mean. Everyone was friendly and nice.

As the saying goes, respect is something earned. A lot of it depends on how you conduct yourself and educate those around you. It is also very subjective and hard to measure. There will always be people who will give you respect while others who don't regardless of the profession. If you're just looking for respect, why aren't you applying to medical school which is unquestionably at the top of the respect chain?

I'm working as an pharmacy intern in retail and hospital and have done several rotations in different practice settings. The retail chain I work at serves many indigent, Medicaid patients. There the pharmacist and I often get treated with a lot of respect since we are usually their first choice for medical advice. They are reluctant to see a physician since the access is difficult for them, and need someone like the pharmacist whom they trust to push them in that direction for problems. We still see patients that have no idea what we know or how much we earn, but that doesn't bother me. If it bothers you so much, then pharmacy probably isn't right for you.

In the institutional setting, it's pretty exciting the environment I work at since the pharmacy and medical director are really progressive. The medical director loves having pharmacists doing more clinical activities, the main barrier being the pharmacist staffing shortage. I've been on pain rounds with a physician who had no idea how much education we receive until the clinical pharmacist explained it to him. The physician then proceeded to introduce us as "Dr. so and so" to the patients. Partly as respect and mostly to not confuse the patient. All of the patients were really thankful for our concern for their comfort. One patient was a retired nurse who loved the multi-disciplinary care that she received.

Anyway, just saying that not everyone's experiences are the same. Most of my customers/patients are really nice to me. If you act professionally, even when they are really mean, then they'll often return in kind. I've had several customers who were really rude come back the next day to apologize and thank me for being so understanding.

 

[SuperSara]

Me too! I worked as an optometric assistant/optical dispenser for a year and was disrespected daily. As soon as the patients were dealing with the OD, they were so nice!!!

I've worked as an opt tech for the past 2 years. The OD never got disrespected, but I did!!! My coworkers and I have been yelled at more times than I can count. They complain about the price of contacts, insurance copays, contact lens RX expirations... the list goes on. Value your office staff, future ODs. 🙂

 

[ODhopeful]

I've worked as an opt tech for the past 2 years. The OD never got disrespected, but I did!!! My coworkers and I have been yelled at more times than I can count. They complain about the price of contacts, insurance copays, contact lens RX expirations... the list goes on. Value your office staff, future ODs. 🙂

I can totally agree with that. I work in a ghetto-ass mall where people are rude and have absolutely no manner. I get yelled at all the time when trying to explain insurance and the cost of care. In my office even the doctor gets it from patients sometimes.

 

[cpw]

I can totally agree with that. I work in a ghetto-ass mall where people are rude and have absolutely no manner. I get yelled at all the time when trying to explain insurance and the cost of care. In my office even the doctor gets it from patients sometimes.

this happens in every health profession... no one knows how their insurance works and gets mad when you try to explain it to them. (even though YOU'RE the one on the phone with THEIR insurance company telling it to them verbatim from the advisors mouth). With premiums going up, co-pays going up, and deductibles sky-rocketing it's no wonder everybody's agitated.