Oct

Now I’m screwed

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Work Sucks

Well, I got myself screwed over today. There was nothing I could do about it. Essentially, a patient blackmailed me (That’s a little too harsh of a word — but it is what it is). A gentleman brought in a prescription for Metformin 500mg 2am and 3pm #qs 3months + 4 refills. For those playing along at home, this prescription is for FOUR-HUNDRED AND FIFTY tablets of Metformin 500mg. WOW.

So, I go to the shelf and see that I have a full 500-count bottle and about 10 tablets in a second bottle. After filling his prescription I would have had under 60 tablets. I called him back to the pharmacy and “leveled with him.” I told him that I have enough to fill his prescription (first mistake that opened me up for attack), but if I filled it, I wouldn’t have any tablets for any other patients until Monday afternoon. He did not have the same amount if empathy as I did for these patients-to-be. I was told to, “fill that prescription and fill it now.” I kind of backed off and tried to speak with the man rationally — he was having none of it.

Had I not told him I had enough Metformin, I would have not been in this situation — my fault. However, I still had to weasel out of the situation I created.

I offered to do ALL of the following in this order:
- Give him enough for a week and mail him the remainder. (”I don’t trust any of ‘em — USPS, Fedex, DHL — they’re all crooks!”)
- Give him enough for a week and PERSONALLY deliver the remainder. (”You’d never find my house and I might be going out of town.”) - I could give you as much as a month’s worth. (”It might be an extended vacation. No tellin’ where I’ll be.”)
- Comp the prescription cost if he just took a week’s worth and waited for the rest to come via mail or delivery. (”It’s only 10 damn dollars. What kinda favor is that?”)
- Convert him to Metformin 1000mg as well as 500mg tabs to make the same dose. (”Those damn tablets are too big — that’s why I only take these 500s”)

He did not oblige. He also threatened to move ALL of his prescriptions to another pharmacy (10 total scripts) if I didn’t fill it, in its entirety, “right then and thar.” Due to that fact, I was forced to fill all 450. However, he paid the cost and received a dirty look from me for being a stubborn ole cunt. Sounds a lot like blackmail doesn’t it?

I’m very lucky my good friends at the Medicine Shoppe were able to help me out by loaning me a bottle of Metformin to cover me through the weekend. I’ll get it back to them Monday — unlike the customer, they were more than willing to wait. I’m lucky to have that relationship with them. I’ve loaned them stuff before as well — to please a patient or make things easier. It’s a good thing.

I’ll also be increasing that order quantity in the computer…and, of course, no favors — EVER for this man. He’s out of refills and needs two to three days worth? Sorry, dude. I just can’t do it! That’s a professional courtesy — not a pharmacy requirement…

Or Print it...

IAPhrmr says October 31st, 2008 at 8:21 pm

Yeah I have some high number people some 400+s so I always have about 3 bottles on hand

Rules of Pharmacy Club:

First Rule of Pharmacy Club: never tell them the truth…

Second rule of Pharmacy Club: never tell them the truth!

If you are going to try to reason with someone to get them to do what you want–don’t give them a choice!

Keith says November 1st, 2008 at 12:33 am

I hate it when people pull that shit. “I spend $2000 a year in your pharmacy and, blah, blah, blah.” Fuck you!
I get paid the same whether you fill here or not. If you transfer out… Well, that’s just less work for me. If you’re going to be a prick, I’m glad to see you go. These tend to be the same jackasses that sing the, “Everytime I come in here, there is a problem” song.
Assholes…

Pharmacy Tech Steve says November 1st, 2008 at 12:53 am

I’m a little confused, or maybe I’m just reading that wrong. Metformin 500mg, 2am and 3pm, #qs 3 months… isn’t that basically 90 days BID (180), with 4 refills? I’m trying to figure out how that comes out to 450, and why you’d be giving them more than 180. (Don’t know as I’ve ever seen that written that particular way, but I’m relatively new at this.) Enlighten me?

It’s not metformin taken at 2am and 3pm. It’s 2 tablets taken in the morning and 3 tablets in the evening. That makes 5 a day. 5 tablets/day times 30 days = 150 tabs times 3mos = 450 tablets.

DKLA says November 1st, 2008 at 11:08 am

I intern for a Corp-Pharm chain and when that usually happens, then I partial the script to a month (give him the full years worth of refills) and let the insurance take the blame. I usually have to call the supplier to send another bottle on Monday if the same ‘customer’ comes back by Monday.

The point is that you’re looking out for ALL your patients not just one bitchy customer.

PharmacistDave says November 1st, 2008 at 12:31 pm

I guess his doc didn’t get the memo about no real benefits in doses above 2 grams

thetwitchytechnician says November 1st, 2008 at 1:20 pm

I wonder what lifestyle changes this splendid gentleman has made to maintain his levels along with the metformin…

Pharmacy chick says November 1st, 2008 at 10:28 pm

You showed your hand too soon my angry friend.
“sorry, I dont have 450, I’l lhave it in on monday”
We’ve all done, it, but honestly, as many assholes I have dealt with, I’ve never actually had anybody do that to me.

Take care!, He WILL get his someday.
What goes around comes around

IndustryCrakMakr says November 2nd, 2008 at 10:35 am

Man, you told the truth to a patient. That’s what got you. Don’t lie, but don’t disclose fully either. I guess you learned your lesson.

Ren says November 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Bad move showing your hand and actually expecting him to do the right thing.

Never count on someone to do something positive for the common good when you can simply take the choice out of their hands and do it for them.

I never advocate actually lying to a customer….like the insurance suggestion above….too much bad-will if you get busted, but not offering all of the information is fair game.

“We don’t have enough to fill your prescription today (and actually be able to make it through the weekend without running out), so here’s some and we’ll get the rest to you monday.”
Don’t say the part in brackets. You’re not lying, you’re just withholding non-essential information. Heh Heh

Yeah, no joke. Lesson learned. You’d think someone as cynical as me wouldn’t have expected someone to have compassion and morals — but I figured that a rational human could make the right decision, especially after I pleaded with him about the good of all above one’s greed…

sickofstupidpeople says November 3rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm

This is why I’m glad I work for a chain with 4 other stores within about a 30 mile radius. I can always borrow stuff if I have to. I’m glad you could borrow from outside your chain - the Medicine Shoppe manager is a good person - and you are, too, for having built the kind of relationship with a competitor that allows you to do that.
And asshole customers like that? They eventually get what’s coming to them…

Beth says November 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm

Yeah you messed up telling him you had it. I would have let him go to another store… he’d be back anyway.

DKLA says November 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

I don’t disagree on telling them on not having enough to fill and filling enough for the weekend. Most of the time they take it to a different pharmacy.

A fill of 450 sounds like an insurance rejection just based on experience (ie. overdose error, a PA, etc.).

Good point in saying that having some decent relations with other pharmacies also helps (calling a nearby store for help if they can spare a bottle is a plus).