Headhunters

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Disgusting, Drug Companies, Hate Mail, Me being a dick, Rude, True Story, Work Sucks

I got the message below from what I like to call a headhunter. What do they do all day? They call us, hardworking pharmacists in the trenches, at work. They bother us incessantly….non stop. Feigning interested in our day. Telling us about “exciting opportunities” in “various healthcare field” with “immediately openings available in our area of the country.”

That’s right. They call me at my job, who currently pays my bills, and asks me if I want to quit and work for any company that will take me. They will promise you the world. Can they deliver? They don’t know. They don’t care. They likely read off a script just like every other telemarketer in America.

I understand as well as anybody that it takes a ton of different people to make the world go around. For every job, there is a worker willing to take that job at that wage. It may not be what I would want to do, or what I could earn, but the job is there nonetheless.

But, how in the fuck do these people make their place in the world? I just don’t get it! I could not imagine a pharmacist, regardless of their level of disgruntlement, saying, “Yeah, I’ll quit this bitch for whatever job you can find me with XYZ company.” I’ve never heard of someone doing it. So, I’ve never heard of a success story. To make matters worse, they bother us at our already hectic jobs. This pisses us off and REALLY makes me want to jump ship!

What makes this specific commenter all the more asinine is that I had a run in with her a while back. The Pharmacy Alliance had an oft-used email listserv prior to their meeting in Texas. She chimed in with this same recruitment chum. I didn’t reply in a swear laden hate-speech. I didn’t even tell her to go fuck herself. I just replied with, “Whoa.”

Now, at work, I like to fuck with these people. The way I see it is that my time is money. I’m sure my time is worth more than there’s, but I’m a huge dick and I like to get a laugh at other people’s expense. I often ask them for all the details and not pay a lick of attention. Then I ask them again. After that I’ll ask them random questions they have no business knowing until they get the hint. “Ma’am, why can’t tigecycline be used for bactermia?” or “Why is Zyvox contraindicated in people on MAOIs?” or “What’s the max daily dose of Oxycodone in a properly titrated person” or my personal favorite, “Why can’t enteric coated aspirin be used to treat a headache?” If they still don’t get the hint, I ask them, “Why does Mickey Mouse have big ears?” — That’s usually the fuck off question that gets em.

Bonus points for answering the real questions in the comments.

A new submission (form: “Contact Form”)
============================================
Submitted on: June 4, 2008
Via: http://www.theangriestpharmacist.com/contact/
By <edited out IP> (visitor IP).

Medicare Part D — WTF?

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Drug Companies

I received this email through the pharmacist-grape vine.

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From:[Contact TheAngriestPharmacist for Sender's Email]
To: rick.larsen@mail.house.gov
Subject: Medicare Part D Merry Go Round 2008
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:57:54 -0800

11/28/2007

Representative Rick Larsen
United States House of Representatives
1529 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Rick:

From time to time you have been able to stop in our pharmacy when on
Lopez Island and I always felt you listened to our concerns about health
care. I thought I’d share with you what I call the Medicare Part D
Merry-Go-Round. Each year the Medicare patient must reevaluate their
respective Medicare Part D drug plan, only because the coverage that they
had during the current year can and does change each year.

Plans have low balled premiums only to raise them in latter years
with the hope that most Medicare patients won’t change their plan. If they
don’t raise their premium they change what they cover. If that isn’t enough
the plans then still covers their drugs, but then changes the copays, or
other criteria for their drugs. This is a unbelievable complicated system
for our seniors. We try to help our patients make sense of the changes, and
when we can we provide education to them to show what their plan was, is or
will be. Again most of the plans are betting that the patient will not
change plans.

I’ve got a good grasp on the system and it takes me hours to
evaluate the plans, can you imagine how a Medicare patient that isn’t
computer savvy feels? This system needs to be fixed and fixed now. Think
about these common sense ideas.

1. Make a fixed list of drugs that are covered for a basic, premium and
deluxe plan.
2. Make copays fixed for generics and brand name.
3. Get the rebates that are lining the pockets of the managers of these
plans into the patients pocket by getting rid of the donut hole.
4. Let the PBM’s make their money by being claims processors, not slight of
hand artists in hiding their rebate dollars.
5. Remove the self-referrals that the PBM’s are making by steering the
Medicare patient into their own mail order pharmacies.
6. We need to allow medications to stand on their own two feet for their
effectiveness, not how many TV ads that can generate.
These direct to consumer ads are adding huge amounts to the cost of
prescriptions in this country. We all know that more dollars are spent on
promotions than on research.
7. Finally make one plan ran by Medicare itself, not by the private plans.

Our elected officials have the power to change this system and it
must be changed. What is important is getting quality care to our seniors.

Respectfully,

Richard C.McCoy,Jr.R.Ph.
Lopez Island Pharmacy
Lopez Island, WA 98261
360-468-#### x103 [Contact TheAngriestPharmacist for Phone Number]

***Reproduction and publication rights are granted on this letter to any
group or individual ***

I think Mr. McCoy has hit the nail on the head. The Federal Government conceded the fact they they could not handle adequately implementing Medicare Part D, so they allowed the insurance companies to step in and take a crack at it. Much as we would have expected, the PBMs have concerned themselves with their pockets and not with the welfare of our seniors/recipients.

I’ve said for a long ass time that direct-to-consumer advertising needs to be made illegal. The average American cannot be expected to comprehend the many factors that go into prescribing. And the fact that Pharma sidesteps the law by merely stating, “Ask your doctor about DrugX” really pisses me off. If they do not state the indication, they do not have to specify the potentially dangerous (and common) side effects. Another practice Pharma has resorted to is that of completely ignoring the law. Throw together a commercial. Get it on the airwaves quickly and widespread — then watch the profits roll in. They may be breaking the law, but by the time complaints can be registered and the FDA can get an injunction (they don’t have any real power) Big Pharma has already seen profits well above potential fines they may incur. That’s fucking bullshit isn’t it?

Don’t even let me get started about what Part D’s reimbursements have done to the independents. These guys are fighting tooth and nail to stay afloat. They don’t have a 200 thousand square foot store to account for losses incurred to balance things out.

Rick has also nailed the complexity of the plans. If I have to struggle to comprehend the assorted plans, I can’t imagine what our country’s seniors are thinking. This has created a viscious cycle. Pharmacists don’t have time to learn the plans and/or help the people due to the increased volume generated by the number of people covered and the decreasing number of pharmacies.

I’m pissed off — how about you?

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We’re all in agreement…

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Drug Companies, Me being a dick, Stupid People

So, we’re all in agreement that drug companies should not be allowed to advertise directly to the consumer…right? Okay. Good. Great. Grand.

Ever see the Valtrex commercial? Sure you have, but have you ever really watched that fucking thing? It’s got a decent looking brunette standing with some guy. She announces that she has it, and he doesn’t — because they are careful and take Valtrex. Blah. Then the ‘voice’ goes on to say, “Did you know that you can contract the herpes virus from your partner even though they have no physical symptoms?”

70% of people say they contracted genital herpes when their partner had no sign of breakout.

Fair enough - I mean, 98% of statistics are made up on the spot. But, let’s hypothesize that this one is accurate. That means:

30% of you herpes-havin’ motherfuckers got it when your fuckbuddy had a visible outbreak that you saw before doing the hibbity-dibbity.

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

You deserve herpes if you saw it before doing the deed and still went to town. That’s gross. That’s worse than earning your redwings…

Pseudoephedrine sucks big, floppy donkey dick

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Drug Companies, Just a question, PSE

I absolutely hate PSE. If I could fake a study and say it causes cancer and heart attacks, I wouldn’t hesitate a second. Here’s the most enlightening thing you’ll hear all day, I know how to fix the problem.

PSE cannot be sold anymore in it’s pure salt form.

Done.

Combo drugs are okay. People cooking meth will have a hell of a time trying to extract loratadine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or a -pheniramine from the pseudoephedrine. I would doubt it could be done…if it’s possible, it wouldn’t be easy or cost-effective.

You want pure PSE? Get a script. Make it a legend drug…it doesn’t need to be controlled - then all the NP and FNPs wouldn’t be able to prescribe it.

Seriously - how hard is that solution?

Why isn’t it done yet?

More Trials and Tribulations…A New Analogy!

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Drug Companies, Me being a dick, Stupid People, True Story, Work Sucks

Today I received three calls that went pretty much as follows:

“I’ve got this Elidel cream that expired in May 2007. Can I still use it?”

Ugh…I always tell people that yes they can use it, but it of course will not be effective. Listen up, people. Expiration dates are not merely suggestions…Do you feel the urge to drink milk that is “just a few days past the expiration date” ????? Of course not…idiots.

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Why do I get 50 calls a day asking me, “How much is 30 Effexor XR 150mg?” or some other random drug? Yet, I never see these magical cash patients come in…I know, some of you might say I’m getting shopped by other pharmacies. But, I never call other pharmacies for prices. I figure out what the correct price is based on my cost, and that is what I tell people. If they tell me that Walgreens or someone is selling it for $XX.XX, and it is within reason, I just switch it. Also, I know how most Wag’s operate, they don’t have time to be shopping prices. I also know how they charge…it is insane…they charge more than double what I do for most things. They *don’t* check prices.

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I’m open from 9am - 9pm. I close from 1:30pm - 2:00pm. Why do I fill ten prescriptions from 1:15pm -1:30pm? That’s more than any other 15 minutes of the day! By those numbers, I should be filling 480 scripts a day…That’s not even close to the 200 or so I do…blah! Why 1:15pm — I just don’t FUCKING GET IT! All I want to do is eat a turkey sandwich, and I can’t do it. And I don’t even want to think what would happen if I stayed closed a little bit longer. Imagine me closing at 1:45pm and staying closed until 2:15pm to make sure I get my 30 minute lunch (which I am required by law to get). I’d have 20 people at my drop off window swearing like a drunkin’ George Carlin when I got back…not an option…

I won’t even speak of the 2-15 minute breaks I’m supposed to get that I’ve never gotten in all my years of pharmacy…

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Stop spilling shit in my pharmacy. Lotion is *not* easy to clean up…

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Does anyone have an Teva-Brand or Sandoz-Brand Amlodipine/Benazepril? Anyone notice what the pill says on it? IT FUCKING SAYS LOTREL

Talk about a scam — man, this could really make pharmacy look bad. How do you explain that away if someone notices? I know that the name-brand manufacturers make the generic after the patent runs out for about 6 months until the actual generic manufacturers get their research, patents, and studies done and applications submitted…At least, that’s what I’ve always thought. But DAMN, change the appearance of the freaking capsule…

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If your kid cries, screams, shits, or acts like a terror, kindly remove him from my pharmacy. If I had kids, and they were brave enough to act out in public, I promise you they will be taken to my car, scared shitless, and I will return — leaving them locked in the car with the windows up sans air conditioner as punishment.

-=+=-

“Why does it take 20 minutes to fill my prescription? Last time it only took you two minutes!”

“Last time you got this filled, you came in at two minutes til closing. I had everything locked up, and I was on my way out the door. Everything was done. I was all caught up. Today, you dropped off your prescription behind 10 other people that also want their prescriptions in two minutes…”

Here’s something I wish people would consider. Ever go to Red Lobster, Applebees, Chili’s, TGI Fridays, or some other steakhouse for dinner? Ever get directly taken to a table, handed a menu, given a drink, ordered, and had your food placed directly in front of you? Fuck no. You wait an hour for a table. You get to the table and are given the menu. Your drink orders are taken and 5-10 mins later you get your drinks and order your meal. Depending on the order and the amount of business, you get your meal in 15-30 minutes. Do you bitch on the amount of time? No! In most cases, you enjoy your drink and talk to your date/friends. (Granted. In some cases, things get screwed up and you say something after you’ve waited forever if your waitress doesn’t notice) THEN, after you finish eating, the waitress clears the plates and offers
you dessert. You wait 5-10 more minutes for that. If you don’t get dessert, you wait a few minutes for your bill. You get out your credit card and set it on the table. Five minutes later, she takes the credit card and charges you. You leave a generous tip.

Total time at the restaurant: 2+ hours

You could’ve had Easy Mac in 10 minutes and for less than 2 bucks. But, you wanted a steak…way to go…

Compare this to my pharmacy. I am steak. I take a little bit of time, but it’s delicious. Plus, you get the joy of looking at me work while waiting. But, it will be correct, cheap, and just as ordered…

You don’t have to tip me. I wouldn’t accept it if you tried. And I’m not feeding you. I’m dishing out complex medications designed to attach themselves to specific receptors located all over your body. What separates what I’m dishing out from poison? Merely the amount I give to you and how much I tell you to take…

Paracelsus says,

“Alle Ding’ sind Gift und nichts ohn’ Gift; allein die Dosis macht, dass ein Ding kein Gift ist.”

Translation:

“All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous.”

Next time, ask the cook or waitress at Red Lobster about the rash under your tit.