Lots of stuff to look at

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Celebrities, Laws, Lazy People, Me being a dick, Patient Education, Robbery, Salutations, Stupid People, True Story, Work Sucks

Finally, a non bullshit assessment of generic drugs from someone without their head up their ass. They got valid opinions from people that matter and aren’t retarded.

http://www.newsmagazinenetwork.com/feature/cover-stories/090512-671/brand-name-versus-generic-drugs

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Here’s a case that is a bit odd.  Mother and son run away after MD tells them the 13 yr old’s Hodgkin’s Lymphoma  is worsening. Mother rejected chemo and western medicine and settled for tried, tested, and true homeopathic Indian Medicine.

The courts did not think this was a good idea.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/25/minnesota.forced.chemo/

Let us not forget,”Child Dies, Parents Perplexed”:
http://www.theangriestpharmacist.com/2008/03/28/child-dies-parents-perplexed/

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Here’s a handful of bullshit. The slop was posted on AOL Health.com and made it into some even bigger channels. Everone better order a bottle of Vicodin, Norco, and Soma.

http://www.aolhealth.com/health/generic-drug-safety

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Pharmacist robbed. Pharmacist gets mad, concealed weapon permit. Pharmacy robbed again. Robber killed by Pharmacist. Pharmacist chases down second robber and shoots him in cold blood. Pharmacist in deep doo-doo.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/30/MNKG17TI7S.DTL

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Oprah’s health advice could make you very sick. Here’s an explanation from Newsweek saying why….I’ve said since the beginning that Neti Pots were the devil.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/200025

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Hope you enjoyed today’s helter skelter rag tag post.

The Worst Person in the World

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as --Not Pharmacy--, Celebrities, Disgusting, Government, Laws, Me hating others, Traffic, True Story, Video

Keith Olbermann has a section in each show where he goes through actions of public figures — usually diabolical, evil, or unimaginable to the average, moral, non-felonious American. He calls it “The Worst Person in the World.” Today, I gonna go ahead and take care of it for him.

ROBERT POWELL of the Plano Police Department is the worst person in the world.

“My mother-in-law is dying! Right now! You’re wasting my time!” Moats yelled. “I don’t understand why you can’t understand that.”

The officer got irritated and irrational. He didn’t listen or comprehend.

“Shut your mouth,” the officer said. “You can either settle down and cooperate or I can just take you to jail for running a red light.”

Ryan Moats happens to work for a small company you may have heard of, the Houston Texans — he’s their running back. He was literally making a mad dash to Baylor Regional Medical Center to be with his wife (Tamishia) and her Mother as the elder passed on. He was speeding. He rolled through a stop sign right as he was reaching the hospital — all the while running with his hazard lights flashing. He was accompanied by his wife and another woman his SUV.

As he pulled into the spot, he was greeted by the officer — gun drawn. Powell screamed commands at the others who eventually just left to run into the hospital to be with their family member. “I can screw you over…” Powell said. Moats stayed around for more than 20 minutes as Powell finished the minutia of the complex process known as ticket-writing — while being pleaded with by Moats, a hospital Security Officer, a PLANO PD Officer, and even two nurses (at different times). Did he get any type of hitch in his giddyup?

No. This dickhead racist took his sweet ass time. In that amount of time, Moats mother-in-law died while he was sitting on the curb. He didn’t get to speak to her. He didn’t get to see her. All because some worthless excuse for a human being decided to flex his nuts for a red-light ticket.

Conclusion: The ticket was thrown out. Chief David Kunkle has made an official apology on behalf of the department. Powell was put on administrative leave with pay.

Unfortunately, compassion is merely required of human beings and not necessarily police officers. Therefore, the Internal Investigation which was launched (which is stupid considering the complete video is on Youtube) is somewhat trivial. By the letter of the law, he did nothing wrong.

I’m sure he’ll be dismissed from that department one way or another, but he’ll get a job somewhere. People like Powell crave power, and a position in law enforcement is the only way to feed that hunger. So, after some time, he’ll be harrassing the various minorities in a whole new area code. It’s his way of exerting control in what must be a truly awful life.

White Trash Serenadin’

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as --Not Pharmacy--, Celebrities, Disgusting, Me being a dick, Me hating others, Music, Stupid People

Now, I’ve made fun of plenty of shitty ass music and stupid lyrics before. See:
My Lip Gloss Be Poppin’ and Fergie and her incessant spelling

I heard this song today, and I was in awe. I’ve searched for the past five minutes, and I was unable to find the full lyrics.

The name of this inbred, slack-jawed, deep south cackling was “DON’T MAKE ME TAKE MY EARRINGS OUT” by the sperm burping whore herself, Gretchen Wilson.

I guess I shouldn’t expect much from the Queen of the Doublewides hailing from Pocahontas, Illinois (population 727). I’m sure fingers outnumber teeth in the vast majority of those 727. I’d like to check the county register there — I’d bet 50% of weddings are amongst cousins in that county.  That’s all that makes sense considering your most “accomplished” citizen has made her money on songs titled:

Redneck Woman
Skoal Can Ring
Don’t Tell Me No Good

Anyway, back to this poor excuse for music. The first line of the song is, “I’ll show you what a cat fight’s all about. Don’t make me take my earrings out.”

I’m not sure what bothers me more, that she is catering to the absolute lowest common white-trash denominator or that she is being somewhat successful at it. It perplexes me why this type of song is so popular. “I have a problem with you, therefore, I’m going to kick your fucking ass.”  Yes yes…fighting solves all of our problems. The people in Iraq, Afghanistan, and even Vietnam fucking LOVE us…

I just don’t understand the mindset. Yes, I have wanted to beat the shit out of people before. Yes, I would be capable as I am big, strong, and obviously filled with rage, but I wouldn’t because it would do nothing but create more problems and solve nothing. The quarrel would still exist and the opposing party now has two reasons to want to get back at me. It’s so stupid — makes as much sense as fucking a football.

The other part of this that bothers me is the fact that many Americans identify with this song and its methods, and they even act like this on Friday nights when they sniff a little glue, take a shot of Tequila, and feel a little raucous. One person mouths to or about another. It gets back around. Then all of a sudden, someone pulls off their earrings and blurts out, “I’m gonna whoop that fat skank bitch’s ass. Say it to my face and not online and see what happens.”

This is the same piece of shit subgroup of Americans that blurt out, “I want to see your manager,” as soon as they hit any type of snag in any retail setting. It’s another easy way out.

Don’t worry, they don’t have computers. So, you can make fun of them here without fear of retaliation. If they do have computers, they only use it for forwarding emails about god, praying, and religious anecotes or checking up on the most recent Nascar stories.

My Obama dream

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Celebrities, Education, Insurance Companies, Laws, Politics, True Story, Work Sucks

Recently, I had a dream where Barack Obama waltzed into my pharmacy. The following is what resulted…

-=+=-

Dear President Barack Obama,

I hope this letter finds you well as you’ve recently taken a very prestigious office – one that only 40 or so other men have had in the history of mankind. The premise of this letter is somewhat odd. It only exists because of a dream – a somnolent dream, not an “I have a dream” dream. Anyway, last night I found myself in what was unmistakably a very joyous dream (which may now be an aspiration-type dream of mine), and for whatever reason, the most powerful man on the planet decided he wanted to meet a real pharmacist, toiling away in the trenches. Again, for whatever reason, you happened in to my pharmacy, and there aren’t any pharmacists more *real* than me.

I immediately came from around the counter to shake your hand and was greeted by the Secret Service (in case I was packing heat – hoping you, the POTUS, for whatever reason, happened in to my pharmacy). After I passed a thorough (non-cavity) inspection, you took my hand in friendship, camaraderie, and respect like many men had before you and many men will after you. You asked me how my day was going. From the way you looked into my eyes (and not through them), I knew, for whatever reason, you cared. I told you it had been a mad house, but thanks to the fine work of my great technician staff, we pulled through. You waved to them, said hello, and told them you appreciated each and every one of them for their hard work in taking care of American citizens, and you meant it.

Then you turned your attention back to me. You asked me what was wrong with America’s healthcare system. Even though this was a dream, I giggled in-reality at my own in-dream response. “President Obama, if you’ve got an open ear on the flight back to Washington, I’d betcha a week’s pay I could fill it.”

I didn’t giggle in-reality at your in-dream response, “Get your coat.”

As we boarded a helicopter (the only way a jet the size of AF1 could land in my town short of an emergency is in the river – pardon the poor timing of that line), you told me to just talk – that you might or might not respond or query me, but your attention was solely upon me and that every word was going to be recorded in case you missed something…and for later reference. That terrified me as I’m known to ramble, exaggerate, and make up facts and figures to win an argument. [sic: Sometimes you have to embellish a bit to run a successful, readable blog that is a worthwhile read and not a boring catastrophe. At the same time, it must be based on truth and indistinguishable from it!]
None of that in this dream though – only cold, hard truths.

My eyes lit up. Years of blogging and arranging my thoughts. Fighting battles with idiots on the internet for eons, only to be brought down to their level by utter ignorance on their part. Forced to resort to shear name calling (and banning) because their arguments were so absurd, so asinine, so dim, so foolish, so unintelligent someone needed to – nay MUST — insult them!

And our trip began – like many posts had before it.

“First and foremost, something must be done about the drug companies. If you want to look at one of the biggest sources of waste and shear gouging of the American public, that is it. I know regulation of our capitalistic economy doesn’t always make friends, but someone must look out for the greater good. There is absolutely no reason millions of dollars each year be wasted advertising these drugs to the American public. They have as much need being marketed to as pregnant mother’s do smoking and drinking. We need to take that money and roll it into research and development of drugs that are going to cure diseases, make medical advances, and better our lives. Again, I know we cannot dictate how a corporation spends its money, but we sure as shit can play games with tax incentives.

“We also need to do something about the FDA. What’s the point? All these guys do is sit around and make wild accusations that THIS drug is going to make you want to kill yourself then THAT drug is going to make you want to kill yourself. Honestly, does the FDA have nothing better to do then research suicidality? I’ve got a few ideas. Let’s quick this me-too-drug crap. Let me make an example of what these companies are doing. Take this can of Mountain Dew. Take a drink of it Mr. President. It’s Mountain Dew, right? [Right.] How much did that can of soda cost? [They are usually 50 to 75 cents these days.] Exactly. Now, let’s pretend I’m a major drug company, like Schering-Plough. Hand me your can of Mountain Dew. (At this point, I tear off the TAB of the can) Now, Mr. President. This is no longer Mountain Dew, spelled D-E-W. It’s Mountain Doo, spelled D-O-O. Your Mountain Dew cost you 50 to 75 cents. This Mountain Doo is going to cost you $7.50, but IT’S A LOT BETTER! Mountain Doo doesn’t have harmful side effects like cancer or rectal bleeding. [You want me to tell you my Dew didn’t have those side effects don’t you?] You’re darn right I do! That’s the point – and that’s exactly what these jokers are doing. Their making minute changes in the formula and selling people the same drug for 10 times the price, and nobody at the FDA has the pills to tell them to stick it! It’s time to let a pharmacist who has seen someone make a tough decision get in there – someone who’s seen Widow Johnson by 4 pills at a time because she can’t afford a month’s supply. If the FDA wasn’t in a fancy office in Maryland, perhaps they wouldn’t have their head buried in the sand.

“Moving right along, let’s talk about places where money is wasted. It’s time for a little regulation of the insurance industry. Do you realize how much time I’ve squandered on the telephone tracking down information as simple as a person’s insurance ID number? Ridiculous amounts. It’s time we get these cards universal and punish companies that don’t comply. They also need to have end dates on them. You know why they play these games? Because they want me to give up. They want me to get pissed, say to hell with it, and charge Widow Johnson for her pills – telling her that her insurance company won’t cover it, she’ll have to bill it by paper – or some other song and dance. While I refuse to give up, many other pharmacists (and companies) do give up. That’s bullshit, and it costs our citizens greatly. They also have a lot of their tech support outsourced – making it all the more difficult to help our citizens get the medicines they need in a timely manner simply because the person on the other end of the phone doesn’t speak English. Now, I don’t hold that against the person on the phone – they needed a job and they took that one – wherever they may be. But, you’re damn right I hold it against the company. They took a job away from an American because we have a higher standard of living and command higher wages. They are doubly hurting Americans with this crap.

“Let’s talk about Sudafed now. Pseudoephedrine is by far my least favorite drug in the history of the world. I have to carry it because people go apeshit if you don’t have it, but I don’t make any money off of it. The margin is good, but we spend so much time filling out paperwork, taking licenses, and policing it that the margin disappears. Worst of all, the meth manufacturers are still getting their hands on it. Sure it’s logged at each store. But most of them aren’t connected. You think the dopers don’t know that? Of course they know that. By making pseudoephedrine a prescription only drug you’d really be helping American healthcare, and I truly believe that. For one, we’d be adding a deterrent to the production of methamphetamine. They have to go to the doctor and get a prescription. It’d just increase the cost of each pill and hopefully price some of them out. Then, we have the added benefit of me not having to waste my time selling it. It’s ridiculous that I get paid nearly 60 dollars an hour to make a 5-minute transaction of a 3-dollar product to someone. Hell, I’ll do ya one better than that, I’d consider decreeing that all long-acting pseudoephedrine product need to be combination products containing Tylenol, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Anything without those things in the tablets has to be 4-hour. I guarantee that would really slice into meth production – if we can protect the borders that is…that’s for someone else to talk about though.

“Again, I realize that everyone has to get a piece of the pie and make their money, but I’d really like to see a universal pharmacy system. A System where every pharmacy is AT LEAST interconnected if not running the exact same software. You wanna talk about increasing patient outcomes, that’s how you do it. I’m not sure if that’s feasible even in the next 20 years, but it definitely needs to be a goal. Not only will it cut down on drug interactions people get Drug A from Wal-Mart cause it’s cheaper and Drug B from Walgreens cause the technician is cute – without letting the pharmacies know about each other. Lots of people get hurt this way, and it’s very preventable. We can’t expect people to take care of themselves and only use one pharmacy or tell the pharmacists at each place what they are taking (even if asked) – that would be absurd! We have to take care of people – which is precisely why I am having this dream right now. This universal system would also help us weed out doctor shopping and pill heads. My store could see that John Doe just got 120 Vicodin down the street paying CASH yesterday, why does he want to bill his insurance for Percocet today?

“I’m sure you were waiting for me to get to Medicaid. It was bound to happen. I know that Medicaid is state funded, but these are nationwide problems. People are abusing the system. I know, major newsflash. Here’s a newsflash, I can cut out 50% of that crap with a few simple ideas. It’s not going to go over well, but it’ll work. More importantly, it will help us help those that actually NEED THE HELP. It will help us weed out the jerks that are merely loafing off the sweat of my brow. It will help us get more people off their butts and into a job. Number one – monthly drug tests for everyone over 18 years old receiving Medicaid. Hell, we could tell people when the drug tests were going to be, and we’d still have thousands fail them. Where’s the money going to come to pay for these tests? After the first 1000 failed tests, which will happen within the first week, we pay for every test nationwide. You fail off Medicaid, you get back on, it takes three consecutive negative drug tests. You fail one while trying to get back on? Never again. BANNED! Sorry, dude. Next, let’s institute some evidence-based-medicine into the drugs we have on our formularies. It’s like these state-aid prescription drug programs have never met a flipping Pharm.D. There is absolutely no reason someone should be on Xanax, and no other antidepressant for longer than three months. There are very few reasons why any person would need Soma for any longer than three months. There is no reason a person should get more than one Z-pak every other month. There is no reason why we should ever be paying for Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Vitamins, and Robitussin DM for adults. We pay for it for the children because these lazy ass worthless waste-of-flesh parents would balk at a two dollar copayment for a pack of menthols up front…that’s why.

“It’s about time we strongly considered giving pharmacists prescriptive authority like we do nurse practitioners. While I’m not saying I’ve got the knowledge to treat a lot of things, I definitely believe there is a niche that pharmacists could fill here – mostly alleviating the stress placed on our ERs by coughs and colds. Too many people, mainly those on our Medicaid system, use the ER as their primary care physician. Since it doesn’t cost them a dime either way, why do they care? They don’t understand, or care to understand, that it costs 5 times as much to be treated in the ER. 5 times zero is still zero to them. Now, if we push some of that onto a pharmacist, who is more than qualified to treat most acute illnesses, we can save a lot of money for the healthcare system. A pharmacist also has the knowledge and wisdom to know when someone needs to be seen by a real doctor and would be more than happy to tell that person to make their way over to the ER. And why in the hell can’t a pharmacist vaccinate nationwide yet? Honestly. LPNs can jam a needle in the arm of anyone walking down the aisle at Walmart, and I need written orders (stating which arm to give it in) from a doctor as well as a specific collaborative practice agreement with an MD within 20 miles. What a joke. I have heard more dumb things come out of LPN’s mouths than I have small children running around my store screaming obscenities. And I have a damn doctorate – sounds fair.

“Three words. Mandatory Technician Certification. I’m tired of calling Walgreens and talking to some high school kid who doesn’t know their butt from a hole in a tree. You know, I’ve called different stores on non-consecutive occasions and had their techs tell me that they cannot give me any information about a prescription and that prescription transfers were illegal in their state. I know that these kids were full of crap as they are down the street from me. When I called back, they had the nerve to hang up on me. Of course, I went by there on my lunch hour and me, the tech, the store manager, and the pharmacist had a little talk about professionalism, state law, and professional courtesy. Then the pharmacist and I had a little talk about what adequately trained, as it states in the statutes meant to him. Nevertheless, this crap could all be subverted by requiring certification prior to working. This would also allow technicians to earn higher wages – which they need to be making anyway as they are the heart and soul of the pharmacy. Grandfather in everyone, but we have to start somewhere.

Sincerely,

TheAngriestPharmacist