venting some frustration from working at pharmacy

[baggywrinkle]

DEA numbers aren't required on the RX unless it's a control. Doctors around here are starting to pick up on this, and they love to deny you their DEA for a non-controlled substance. They still believe that it's some super secret code that's preventing 100's of people from faking their scripts....

This is true, and if you work for a class act like WAG it is a non-issue since they purchase and load the entire DEA database. But when you work for the evil empire with their cheesy low budget computer system you must load them yourself, and the system will not ALLOW you to proceed with dispensing a prescription without a valid DEA number. It has nothing to do with insurance. At this point the ethical pharmacist is faced with three choices; give the script back, dummy in a DEA number, or call the doc for the correct information. This was how the fellow tripped himself up.

DEA numbers for insurance purposes are a royal PITA when youi deal with other health care workers such as naturopaths or optometrists. Even P.A.s and CRNPs who have DEA numbers can give you grief because their numbers are in an atypical format from the physician's DEA which make the computer choke.

The standard practice is to dummy in a number or use the number of the covering physician which can get you in dutch with the powers that be for fraud.

There is no good answer except perhaps to shrug your shoulders with the appropriate blank look and demand cash - then cover your ears when the screaming starts

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[Caverject]

This is true, and if you work for a class act like WAG it is a non-issue since they purchase and load the entire DEA database. But when you work for the evil empire with their cheesy low budget computer system you must load them yourself, and the system will not ALLOW you to proceed with dispensing a prescription without a valid DEA number. It has nothing to do with insurance. At this point the ethical pharmacist is faced with three choices; give the script back, dummy in a DEA number, or call the doc for the correct information.

How bout calling Wags? LOL

 

[pharmaz88]

How bout calling Wags? LOL

Nothing wrong with that. We had a CVS open a mile down the road from us about a year ago, and a tech from there would call once in a while to ask for doctor info.

 

[GravyRPH]

Good thought. That is an excellent and effective alternative. You would have to be on good terms with the pharmacy, at least enough so that they would know you're an actual pharmacist calling for the information.

 

[bananaface]

Has everyone actually started having problems with this, or is it just contained to a few areas? I personally haven't had anyone refuse a DEA yet. (Well except for this idiot nurse who claimed not to know what one was.) It's probably going to happen sooner or later.

 

[baggywrinkle]

Has everyone actually started having problems with this, or is it just contained to a few areas? I personally haven't had anyone refuse a DEA yet. (Well except for this idiot nurse who claimed not to know what one was.) It's probably going to happen sooner or later.

Some of my docs in Florida would get pissy if you asked them for it saying something like "I'm on file with you," which was true yet missed the point.
These were for controlled substances, btw. Something along the lines of yes I KNOW you are on file - what is your DEA, would clue them that it was not an optional answer.

 

[Katee80]

Just to add to this, I refused the sale of 6 bottles of iodine today with the economy size bottle of sudafed. Gee, wonder what he was doing with it! LOL

Sudafed? Isn't that an allergy med? Could someone let me in on why its a big deal if someone buys Sudafed? And the iodine. Whats up with that?

(i'm not in pharm yet)

 

[Glycerin]

Sudafed? Isn't that an allergy med? Could someone let me in on why its a big deal if someone buys Sudafed? And the iodine. Whats up with that?

(i'm not in pharm yet)

It's amazing what goes into crystal meth.

 

[Katee80]

It's amazing what goes into crystal meth.

Learn something new everyday!

 

[raindrop]

It's amazing what goes into crystal meth.

I'm a pharmacist, as some of you may know. Am I supposed to know how to make crystal meth?

I already get all the "I used cocaine two days ago and I have a drug screen on Thursday, will it show up?" I never know how to answer these questions. 1) These are random callers; do I have a liabilty or obligation to look up the info and give them truthful answers? 2) He has already admitted committing a crime, would my info "help" him (If he postponed the screen until it was out of his system...)

But I know sudafed and maybe Drano are used in crystal meth "labs" but that's about all I know.

 

[Glycerin]

But I know sudafed and maybe Drano are used in crystal meth "labs" but that's about all I know.

That's what I was referring to. With that said, it's easy to simply look up how to make that crap online. I remember in Organic I lab, we had to partner up with someone and give a report on something to do with organic chemistry. Two girls in my lab thought it would be hilarious to explain how to "shoot up" cocaine and how to make it liquid form from the powder and whatnot. Of course, they couldn't quit giggling enough throughout their presentation to notice that most of us were flabbergasted and that our jaws were on the floor.

 

[loo]

Loo, please tell me why you are happy with your job and why you picked the profession that you did. I apologize, but I have already formed an uninformed opinion about you and would like to correct that opinion if I am wrong.

I picked pharmacy because I wanted to be in healthcare, yet have the flexibility to persue outside interests/educational endeavours. Why am I happy? I work in a rural area where folks will go to the pharmacist before the doctor, vet, dentist. Just the other day, I picked out a grub from a patient's cat--of course, advising the owner to follow-up with the vet. Believe it or not, I actually learn a lot from my patients and they trust me. Don't assume that I am "jaded" or pessimistic. That's just dumb.

As to your uninformed opinion about me--I could care less.

 

[loo]

Is it possible to not dimiss someone simply because that have an idealistic view? If you are correct and people will learn with experience a different point of view, is it too wrong to let them learn it on their own with time instead of crushing their hopes and opinions with every post they make?

Hmm...I do not remember "dismissing" you. Again, your assumption. Don't take everything so seriously. No, there is no problem with being idealistic. I am to...until you take advantage of it.

I wish you well in your pharmacy journey! Sorry, should have welcomed you to the board.

 

[vafcarrot]

wow. No witty comebacks from me... sorry.

Thank you for wishing me well on my pharmacy journey. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping I do well as well.