Im Back with PICTURES :)

It's been forever since I posted on here and I apologize.

Let's see...

There was a week that patients were just ridiculous and impossible to deal with. I was getting yelled at constantly for the most ludicrous things. Anyway after about 3 ladies screamed at me that they were going to report me and I smiled and said, "Be my guest" I got called into the office. The manager wanted to discuss my recent complaints. Now first off, I hate the fact that the store manager is going to chew you out when they really dont know a thing about what goes on in the pharmacy. And number two, Its no secret that I'm the best tech they have back there so the fact that I even need to address this is silly. After the manager talks about it for a little while, I ask her what exactly my complaint was.....

"The customers said you were a little short with them."

.............................Im sorry A LITTLE SHORT, a little short? You have GOT to be kidding me! If after attacking me, yelling at me, and telling me I'm stupid, have no idea what I'm doing, and need to get out of the pharmacy all you have to complain about is that I was "a little s

hort" with you...I dont think thats anything to be worried about. Personally if thats all you can come up with I dont think that says ANYTHING. Sounds like Im doing a pretty good job. Ridiculous.

I then proceeded to ask my manager about a code a conduct as far as customer treating me like garbage. She told me that they could yell at me, spit on me, or do anything they would like to me and I have to smile. I then told her that I would no longer be dealing with yelling patients and she would be having this conversation with the pharmacists after they get yelled at. Stupid.

Now, how about some pharmacy pics?

Picture 1: So its totally normal to get a bottle of drugs in with no indication as to what medication it is right??? The only way I knew this was Metoclopramide was from the tiny writing on the med guide attached. Oh, and there was never a mg mentioned anywhere. That means I had to open the bottle, look at the pills, and then run a pill search in Clinical Pharm. I should be in touch with Teva about this.

Picture 2: Its Tamiflu compounding time. Since most techs are idiots that cant be trusted, all the compounding is my responsibility. I've been compounding my life away in Tamiflu. Oh and my fingers are getting sores on them from opening the hundreds of capsules :(

The bottle says I have refills!!!!

People kill me they really do. At least once a day I get this:

Girl: "Yeah, I tried to refill my medicine and your automated system says it will need doctor approval. But I've got the bottle right here and it says 4 more refills"

Me: "Ok what's your DOB.....and last name......Ok"

Now keep in mind today is 9-6-09.

I look in their profile and see what the problem is...

Me: "Ok now you say your bottle says it has 4 refills left?"

Girl: "Yes thats right it says right here '4 refills'"

Me: "Ok, will you please read the end of that sentence...it has 4 refills...."

Girl: "4 refills until 8-16-09"

..............silence as Im waiting for the headlights to come on which they never seem to do. So it looks like Im going to have to spell it out.

Me: "It says until 8-16-09"

Girl: "Uh huh"

.....Still nothing. Geez

Me: "Well today is 9-6-09, so thats past 8-16-09. Therefore you cant get anymore refills it has expired"

Girl: "Wait. What? You mean I cant refill it. It says right here 4 more refills...."

Yeah she wasnt a very smart one today. *sigh*

I dare you to knock on that window again...

So another day, another drive through... Isnt it funny this is where all the crap happens. If it isnt bad enough that your lazy, You always prove you stupid and ignorant as well. Hence today...Car drives up with older lady and her husband in the car. They hand me a script and ask me to fill it. I then proceed with protocol which includes asking for the DOB and writing it on the script. Well, while I bend over to write down the DOB, the man in the passenger seat proceeds to ask me a question. No big deal. While working in the pharmacy people tend to believe that Im capable of doing 50 fifty things at once and think nothing of requesting me to do so. So, as if writing his DOB down and nodding my head in acknowledgment of him talking wasnt enough, his wife proceeds to reach her arm out the window of the truck and tap on the window right where my head is located.............Wait WHAT????!!!!! AM I A FISH???? Why the heck are you tapping on the glass to get my attention. I am NOT a fish and I am NOT located in an aquarium. It doesnt work like that. Its not like Im ignoring you. Not only am I getting your Rx ready but Im nodding my head in acknowledgment of your talking. UUGGGHHH. The NERVE of some people sometimes. Drives me crazy!

Flu Shot

So thankfully I've had a lot of nice people lately. This week we started doing prn flu shots. Within four days our average script count increased by >14%. Now anyone who knows how to read pharmacy bottlenecks and statistics knows this is insane. It's been crazy. And with crazy comes mean. But lately that hasnt been the case. Ive been focusing most of my attention on flu shots and this group of older patients came in. Well we were all cutting up and I was making conversation with them as I was signing them up for their flu shots. As they were leaving one of the guys came and insisted on paying for my flu shot. Of course I declined and said I really couldnt take it. Well after a few minutes of arguing over taking it lol, he just left it on the table and said bye. I really was stunned. I get a lot of nice "gifts" from customers but this just seemed like too much. But hey Ill never forget the year a patient paid for my flu shot. I have some of the best customers when you take the time out to get to know them!!!

On the topic of flu shots....I am just LOVING how many people are coming in gawking about how they "just cant BELIEVE anyone would get that H1N1 vaccine....I mean it hasnt been researched....they know nothing about it....its only been out this year....etc" Ummmm HELLLOOOO  I hope you know that a different strain of the flu enters the US each year. This means that *GASP* they have to create a NEW flu shot EVERY year. I mean it's only been out this year!!!! Oh and by the way...they GUESS which one is coming....they dont even know 100% that it will be the certain strain that you get a shot for...OH MY.

Haha people crack me up. I actually told one lady this today (I just couldnt contain myself). Her reaction: *Blank Stare*

They love me...They love me not

You never know what kind of day it's going to be when you walk into the pharmacy. Let's take Monday for example....

Lady in drivethrough comes to get her brand name Remeron.

Me "Ok thats going to be $120"

Lady "WHAT???"

Me ***Seriously...is she kidding. This is a refill. She knows its ridiculous to request brand name Remeron. What else would she be expecting?*** "Yeah $120."

L "Thats impossible. I only pay $20"

Me "Well this IS Brand name. Insurances and can change at any point and they dont have to let you know"

L "I SAID I only wanted #30"

Me "Yeah, it's 30"

L "Youre lying!! I dont believe you. Give it to me!!"

Me "Okkkaaayyyy"

L "Why is it $120? This is ridiculous!"

Me "Like I said insurances can change at anytime and dont have to notify you."

L "I dont believe this. It's wrong."

Me "You can call the insurance company if you want, but they are just going to tell you the same thing I did."

L "Well how much is the generic?"

Me "Idk. I'd have to run it through your insurance"

L "Well do it!"

Me "Ok hang on a minute. I mean it's going to be a lot cheaper"

***Typing on the computer. I then see that she only takes 1/2 a table daily. Therefore the thirty tablets is actually a 60 day supply. And to make matters more complicated...the insurance is now saying they wont pay for 60 days, only 30 days***

Me "Ok so I just ran it through your insurance and it looks like they were allowing 60 days to go through but now they are requesting 30 days only so that'd be $10 for 30 days of generic"

L "What do you mean 30 days!!!! I just TOLD you I wanted 3o days!!"

Me "Umm actually you said you wanted #3o which it was. But you only take 1/2 a tablet a day so thats a 60 day supply. I can get you a 30 day supply of Brand name Remeron for $60"

L "You need to be more respectful!!! You shouldnt treat customers like that!!!"

Me "Ummm Im not sure what youre talking about. I didnt do anything..."

L " IM GOING TO REPORT YOOOOUUUU!!!!!"

Me "Um ok"

L "I've never been treated this way! I always go to such and such store and they have NEVER treated me with such DISRESPECT!!!"

Me (Getting slightly annoyed at this point) "Well you can always go to that one if you would like"

L "YOU NEED TO GET ANOTHER JOB!!!"

Me (Giggling slightly) "Ok, So would you like me to get you the #15 Brand Remeron for $60"

L "YES!!!.......

(As I start to walk away to go grab it really fast.....)

L "Are you the pharmacist!!!"

Me "No Maam "

L "I CAN TELL!!!!!!!"

Me (Still giggling at the ludicrous of the whole situation) "Ok, would you like to speak to one?"

L "YES, why yes I would!"

So I walk off to get her Rx ready and grab the pharmacist who heads over to see what the ruckus is about. I can hear the lady yelling from the other side of the pharmacy and I can also hear my pharmacist explaining that Im actually I really good employee and she can feel free to report me. I also hear the Lady ask for my name like 5 times....um seriously how hard is it to remember Stephanie. Anyway...back walks the Pharmacist.

Pharm "Dont go over there. I'll deal with it. She's still yelling. It's like she wanted me to agree that youre just an awful person. She wont listen to a word Im saying. UGH. This is ridiculous."

Well that was the last I heard of that. Good luck reporting me...Like THATS going to go anywhere.

Still Monday and the next problem arises:

Enter Mrs. Hate. Now let's get some background on Mrs Hate. I dont think I've ever seen this lady smile or say one nice word in her entire life. I also dont think I've ever seen her without her cellphone to her ear and every time you go through the protocol of verifying questions, you WILL get an eye-roll and a nasty answer shot back at you. If thats not bad enough, She has probably 8 kids who each have 3 prescriptions and some how every time she comes in SHE'S PREGNANT AGAIN. Oh did I mention that she cant seem to afford the prescriptions for her children now and they ALWAYS get left for over 7 days which then get deleted. Well of course some time after that she drives through wanting them and the screaming erupts. This lady is so bad she's not only known in the pharmacy but all the managers know her too. (And she's made me cry on at least one occasion)

Ok Enter Mrs. Hate through the drive through.

Her rx's were sent over ohhhh lets see here......2 MINUTES AGO!!!

Tech "We just received those so I'm going to have to have about 15 minutes to get them ready for you"

Hate (No Response).....not uncommon

......2 minutes later..........sttiillll sitting in the drivethrough

**Oh brother, Ok here goes**

Me "Maam, Like we said it's going to be 15 mintes. Im going to need you to pull out of the drivethru"

Hate "Dont you dare speak to me like that!! Im not going anywhere"

Me "Um Im sorry but you're going to have to pull out of the drive thru. You're not allowed to sit and wait there"

Hate "There's no one behind me IM NOT MOVING"

***DEEP BREATHE****

Me "Im sorry, but its the store's policy so Im just going to have to ask you to........

As Im speaking she proceeds to roll her window up on me and continue her phone conversation.

Ok now Im pissed.

(I look at the pharmacist) "CAN I CALL THE COPS THIS IS RIDICULOUS"

Pharm "No call the store manager" 

So I get the store manager back there. When she comes back Mrs. Hate FINALLY decides to move...........into the store that is. She comes busting into the pharmacy and proceeds to yell at the manager about me, claiming she has NEVER been spoken to like that in her whole entire life.

Ugh. I give up!

So needless to say, one of the worst days of my life. But now its Wednesday:

Son calls about filling his mothers prescriptions:

Long story, short. The mother had a couple orders through the mail. I refilled one successfully while he went to check with her about what rx's she needed and what she ordered. He calls back and she was good on one and then the other was actually pending in the mail order waiting on payment. I just explain that if he calls the mail order they can back out the claim and I can re-run it and fill it here for him. I also run a couple simple price checks to see what the cheapest option is. He calls and cancels it and then calls me back. I process it and get it ready for him. No big deal really. Pretty simple. He did the hard work. Well he was so super nice and thanked me. I told him it really meant a lot to hear that (considering the previous days). Well, when he comes in to pick up the prescriptions, he gives me a restaurant gift card! Talk about totally unnecessary. I felt so flattered and thanked him stating the in-necessity of it. 

One thankful person (gift or no gift) makes all the hardship and crap worth it. I never forget those people.

Ex-Wives and Cialis

So, in my two plus years of working in the pharmacy I have NEVER encountered anything like this.....Here's how it went down.

Mr. Carolle "I'd like to pick up my medicine"

Me "Hmm it looks like I dont have anything for you. Something was sold yesterday."

C (Turning the brightest shade of red) "That's impossible!"

Me "No I specifically remember your wife came in yesterday and asked for it"

C "That's impossible! That couldnt have happened"

Me "Seriously, she did. I remember. I sold it to her"

C "Did she ask for it?"

Me "Yeah she came in and said your name, I verified the address and everything"

C "Im not married to my wife anymore"

............silence.............

Me "Wait, What?"

C "She's my ex wife and there's no possible way she could have gotten my medicine. Are you sure you didnt make a mistake."

Me "OMG no. I doubt she would have dropped $141 dollars without knowing what she was doing.....Wait a minute come to think of it, She asked me to change the address."

C "What do you have in the system?"

Me (I read off the address)

C "Thats my work address. Why do you have that one?"

Me "Idk She just told me to change it to that one"

C "Well what am I suppose to do?"

Me "I guess call the cops. I can get your medicine ready again. You have prn refills so its not going to hurt you, but yeah I'd call the police"

C "Are you sure it wasnt a mistake....was she maybe trying to get something for her?"

Me "No how could it be a mistake. She paid $141 dollars, I verified the address, and she had me change it. If she thought it was hers why would she put YOUR work address on it"

C "Your right. I just dont understand"

Me "This is so freaky. Im so sorry."

C "Yeah I guess I'll be calling the cops"

Like wtf!!! Are you freaking kidding me. Ex-wife comes in and steals ex-husbands Cialis (used for erectile dysfunction, like Viagra). Can we say super super creepy!!!!

J-A-M-I-E

"Hi I'm picking up a prescription for Jamie *Mumbles really hard last name containing at least 12 letters"
"Ummm How do you spell that?"
"J-A-M-I-E"
*Rolls eyes* Are you freaking kidding me??? No you idiot; Your last name. UGH
-Like seriously, you have NO idea how many people are this dumb. It kills me!