Robot pharmacist?

[RedPill1785]

I couldn't find any up-to-date discussion, and I wanted comments about this article and this quote:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/r...rning-out-too-many-grads/stories/201310270094

"There will be continued contraction on the pill-dispensing side of the profession. Mail-order pharmacies, robotics in hospitals, automated bar-coding -- "a pharmacist never has to touch the medication," Ms. Kroboth said. "Technology [has] really changed the face of dispensation."

So we know market saturation, corporations buying away private stores, student loans and health insurance(more part-time workers instead of full time workers) is an issue for pharmacy.

Can a pharmacist please explain to me where robotic technology will fit in everything? Personally(and I am not a pharmacist, pre-pharmacy or pharmacy student..just a curious mind), I don't think we'll see widespread "robot" pharmacists anytime soon. I can't imagine the baby boomer population going to the local CVS and talking to a pill dispensing vending machine. What I do see is larger hospitals opting for automated machinery and maybe a select group of pharmacists acting as a "call station" for x number of clinics or hospitals. Maybe some high volume drug stores.

I can see one pharmacist "managing" several robots, thus cutting costs and volume for the company.

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[positivesign]

I've seen robots in outpatient and inpatient (retail and hospital) and there are pros and cons. With the current technology, a robot won't be able to replace a pharmacist. May be a technician. Even then, that robot will not be what we call a "super-tech." Super tech=tech with great years of experience, knows how to troubleshoot most problems in pharmacy-customer complaint, insurance problems, etc.

pros of robots:
reduces a lot of repetitive work. Robot model will be useful when pharmacy has enough budget to cover it+wants to delegate more advanced tasks to its human staffs to better the service.
cons of robots: when that machine breaks..oh my. All the burdens now go to the already reduced # of staffs. Keeping the contract=financial burden for a pharmacy.

"A pharmacist never has to touch the medication" is probably a scary scenario at least for me. As a student, I learn to distinguish drugs by actually touching and seeing it many many times. A pharmacist's job is to verify that the med that's about to go out the door of the pharmacy is actually correct and appropriate for the patient. I don't know if this is an ideal way of verifying a prescription per say. May be a pharmacist no longer needs to grab a spatula and count in 5s but the end-product needs to be seen by one.

Mail-order pharmacies are great options for people who can't or don't want to go to a neighborhood pharmacy. It would be desirable for many senior customers to have their meds delivered/mailed to their homes. It's not without shortcomings though. Meds are usually sent out in large quantities, typically 3 months or more. If a patient is trying a new drug, gets re-evaluated and the doctor offers a new strength, what happens to the rest of the supplies..? I hear that people over the time accumulate a lot of unnecessary drugs in their homes in this way. Probably the best idea is to have a pharmacist check with patients regularly on how well they are aware of their current therapies and asking them to dispose any discontinued medicines to avoid confusion.

Technology has its contributions but cannot replace everything in my opinion. One example at my work. Customers call in for refills via an automated voice message system rather than a real person looking at their drug history profile. What if there are no more refills, what if the insurance is no longer covering it due to plan limitation, formulary changes etc...the system doesn't tell you all that. And when the customer is expecting their meds to be filled, pharmacy staffs get all the blames for "not filling it" when actually they are waiting for that dr's office to fax in a new prescription, or talking with the insurance company to troubleshoot the problem, etc.
I used to work in an independent where this was no problem. If I didn't have this experience as a pre-pharm student, I wouldn't have thought that pharmacy was a career worth pursuing. Customers were not in for surprise when they walked into the pharmacy. Most of us worked hard to communicate any issues going on with the customer so they understood. It was a "low technology" environment, but more people-friendly, in my opinion. And it brought business to this pharmacy. I know a lot of independents are being bought out by big corporates, but some are thriving, and I hope that more will be successful in the future. Smart people know not to go to these chain pharmacies since they know that the environment is becoming less human. We had a customer whose son was a pharmacist who told this lady specifically to only do her business with independents. Insiders know what's better for their family members. I do the same for my parents.

 

[StellargalS]

There was a time when I sent my family and friends to indies only. Back when they were more prevalent in my area I chose these sites for my employment.

Circa 2010 I held a job at an indie with high volume robotic dispensing. I say held because it was quite a ride. I lasted a little over a year but alas parental demise stripped the buffer that bolstered me in. I was the 1 FTE on a 1.75 FTE pharmacist op that had me verifying 800 rxs most days but very often 1500. The most I ever staked my license on was 1800. I worked NMT 8 hours a day.

I don't think we can stereotype pharmacies by ownership these days. More recently I have worked in despicable outpatient hospital ops that lacked robotics. Safety features for the good of the patient are being place more and more. It is the best that anyone will be able or willing to do to combat the primary concern for the 1%'s wealth. IMO. The pharmacist is being freed up but not the way heshe wished to be.

Disclaimer: I am answering a question from my experience. Please no whining about the doomers. I am not a scapegoat for anyone's denial. Denial is as tedious as doomers JFTR.

 

[Wheresmyaricept]

Pharmacists are more than just pill dispensers. Automation frees them up from spending too much time on the dispensing role and allows them to play a more clinical role in hospitals or other health care institutions. In a community setting, automation gives more time to allow consultations, immunizations, MTM, and other services.

Or at least that how it goes in theory.

 

[pezdispenser]

Walgreens POWER or Well Experience is already moving in this direction. Most of the computer work and verification can be done by pharmacists working in the comfort of their own homes, with no interruptions, distractions or phone calls. Phone calls are routed to a call center with pharmacists available 24/7 for consultations. With this support, even just one pharmacist in a store can do crazy high volume as well as immunizations, etc. Like it or not, retail pharmacy is a for-profit business and thus there will always be a push to use technology and automation to achieve greater productivity and more profits.

 

[StellargalS]

Incidentally, that year long ride aforposted, was my favorite year in pharmacy. Job suckatude is not about numbers for me.

 

[opinionfree]

With my rugged good looks, undeniable charm and limitless wisdom, I don't foresee myself being replaced by robotic technology. I see it as a tool, like a pill counter, to improve pharmacy. During these cold winter nights, customers would much rather snuggle up with me, as opposed to a robot. At least, I hope.

Profits are one thing, people are another. The USA is on the verge of collapse, with unemployment levels at 7%. Poorly designed studies estimate, current robotic technologies could replace 10% of the US workforce. Imagine that effect on the US economy and unemployment levels. No doubt, technology will cause further constriction within pharmacy, as well as, all other professions. When all else is equal, 'human' qualities will become the metric for differentiation and career retention, especially if the machines are doing the work.

 

[StellargalS]

With my rugged good looks, undeniable charm and limitless wisdom, I don't foresee myself being replaced by robotic technology. I see it as a tool, like a pill counter, to improve pharmacy. During these cold winter nights, customers would much rather snuggle up with me, as opposed to a robot. At least, I hope.

Profits are one thing, people are another. The USA is on the verge of collapse, with unemployment levels at 7%. Poorly designed studies estimate, current robotic technologies could replace 10% of the US workforce. Imagine that effect on the US economy and unemployment levels. No doubt, technology will cause further constriction within pharmacy, as well as, all other professions. When all else is equal, 'human' qualities will become the metric for differentiation and career retention, especially if the machines are doing the work.

Call me old fashioned but cuddling has no place in pharmacy. Thank lucky stars no such description has read it's head in my positions. If it ever does I will defer my spot to her.


And you'll want to that 1/2 hour prior to intercourse, John. Questions?

 

[opinionfree]

"Call me old fashioned but cuddling has no place in pharmacy. Thank lucky stars no such description has read it's head in my positions. If it ever does I will defer my spot to her"

StellargalS,
What is your problem? Stop bullying my posts. I responded to a thread. It doesn't warrant your nasty commentary, on my response. Learn to restrain yourself. Believe me, there are many things I should say about your participation in various posted topics. I don't. Unfortunately, like the humor in my response, it would most definitely be over your head. No one made you response monitor. You keep demonstrating your intellectual impotence, every time you post/respond to a topic. Trust me, no one would touch someone as insecure as you. Feel safe in that knowledge. Once someone hears the drivel you spout, they will run to the nearest clinic for immediate neutering.
I registered my views upon a query. I injected a bit of humor, with my opinion, to make my point. Why you feel it necessary to say boo about my post, is an issue for your shrink. I pray you have at least one, for each different personality you possess. You have sufficiently demonstrated your inability to participate in a discussion, so you attack others that post concepts beyond your comprehension. Leave me alone. You really are the definition of a stalker.

 

[StellargalS]

"Call me old fashioned but cuddling has no place in pharmacy. Thank lucky stars no such description has read it's head in my positions. If it ever does I will defer my spot to her"

StellargalS,
What is your problem? Stop bullying my posts. I responded to a thread. It doesn't warrant your nasty commentary, on my response. Learn to restrain yourself. Believe me, there are many things I should say about your participation in various posted topics. I don't. Unfortunately, like the humor in my response, it would most definitely be over your head. No one made you response monitor. You keep demonstrating your intellectual impotence, every time you post/respond to a topic. Trust me, no one would touch someone as insecure as you. Feel safe in that knowledge. Once someone hears the drivel you spout, they will run to the nearest clinic for immediate neutering.
I registered my views upon a query. I injected a bit of humor, with my opinion, to make my point. Why you feel it necessary to say boo about my post, is an issue for your shrink. I pray you have at least one, for each different personality you possess. You have sufficiently demonstrated your inability to participate in a discussion, so you attack others that post concepts beyond your comprehension. Leave me alone. You really are the definition of a stalker.

Summarily: I don't hold grudges, I was mistaken and it will not happen again.