pharmacy

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*********** IF YOU READ ONE ARTICLE TODAY, PLEASE READ THIS, ESPECIALLY INDEPENDENTS ****************

My main issue with our pharmacy environment today (sorry, it's not clinical)!!

Why is it that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) can stack the deck in their favor and no one seems to see a problem with that. We have NO input in the the contract language and formation. We have NO input as to reimbursement for our services. We CANNOT provide 30 & 90 day Rxs at the same co-pay or rates as mail order (PARDON ME !, "home delivery"). We CANNOT force our customers to use our pharmacies while the PBMs threaten customers with their mail order or pay full price. We CANNOT call the PBMs mail order customers and offer them "free co-pays" (Humana Part D) if they will switch to me!! We CANNOT audit the PBMs, even though several of them have gotten their hand caught in the cookie jar and have stolen millions of dollars. We would NOT be able to continue doing business if we committed the FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE that these outfits are committing daily. Why is it we were FORCED to comply with accreditation with Medicare when we had such a low ratio of Medicare dollars paid vs. our everyday business? Why is it that insurance companies are selling FSA, HSA, XYZ policies and then basically force us to buy expensive POS systems and upgrade software and hardware in order to run the very few cards we get, then having to explain why they can't buy ibuprofen but they can get Tylenol on their cards. And WHY are we always the ones stuck with paying fees for all this wonderful technology? We went from $0.00 to ~ $450-500 per month on credit card fees which we never accepted until the FSA, HSA, XYZ thing started.More »

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Congruency's Roots Should Run Deap

I just got finished penning an article for a major retail pharmacy publication, and in it I spoke of the need for differentiation of services. Much in line with Darwinian effect. It is no longer an option, but a necessity for a retail pharmacy to bulk up their non-insurance reimbursable products and services if they don't want to see their profit margins continue to spiral.

With this new health care bill looming, and even with out it (can I say Part D) it is my guess that there is going to be a major weeding out, a business detoxification if you will, where “only the strong will survive” within our new changing economy over the next 5 years.More »

adrenal stress, bioidentical hormones, bottom line, estrogen, independent pharmacist, nutrition, pharmacy, pharmacy marketing, pharmacy profits, progesterone

Job Opportunity

Yesterday I was called in for an interview at Happy Harry's; a pharmacy chain owned by Walgreens. They asked me about my past experience in the pharmacy I worked for in Texas as well as the schooling I went through. Overall, the interview went excellent, but I do have to get my CE credits done because my certification expires in November. I also have to bone up on my on my measurement and perscription abbreviations. It's been about a year since I've been in a pharmacy environment. I am optimistic about this opportunity though.More »

interview, job, opportunity, pharmacy, Walgreens

Not a pharmacy

When is a pharmacy NOT a pharmacy? In California that is.
If there is a website giving the address of a pharmacy but there IS no pharmacy at that address (there is actually a DIFFERENT pharmacy at that address)is this illegal or misleading?

If the Board of Pharmacy hasn't issued a license to the pharmacy listed on the Website but there IS a license issued to the pharmacy that is ACTUALLY at the address, is that OK?

If the address to which a chemical (drug) wholesaler delivers chemicals (drugs) for compounding is a RESIDENCE and NOT a pharmacy, is that legal?

Your thoughts are welcomed.More »

compounding, delivery of chemicals, legal, license, pharmacy, pharmacy license

Why you should take notice of CDS (Clinical Decision Support) now

It's an exciting time for hospitals around the world. Most modern clinical systems are capable of at least some CDS. Things like interaction/allergy checking, formulary substitution, etc.More »

HIT, informatics, meaningful use, pharmacy, technology

Awesome News!

I was offered the position at the pharmacy. Actually, they want me to work at two different locations so I can get full time hours. All I have to do is fill out some paperwork and pass the drug test.More »

jobs, opportunity, pharmacy, work

Forum topic

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP or PMP)

I work in Ohio and we have a PMP called OARRS (Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System). By law, pharmacy technicians may not have their own OARRS accounts.More »

Law, OARRS, ohio, PDMP, pharmacy, PMP, technician

News Story

Women's only pharmacy to open in Vancouver

07/07/2009

VANCOUVER — The first women's only pharmacy in North America will open its doors in Vancouver. The pharmacy, located in the city's troubled Downtown Eastside, is called Lu's: A Pharmacy for Women, and is aimed at providing female-oriented services to clients.More »

Canada, pharmacy, Vancouver

Story

Scared To Branch Out?

How many of you out there have been in the same practice setting for a long time? I constantly get calls from pharmacists that want to do something different, but don’t have the experience to get a job. Often, it is a retailer that wants to go back in to Clinical Practice, sometimes it is a newly laid off Sales Rep that hasn’t worked in a pharmacy for years. Scary stuff, especially in this current environment with 6 Pharmacy schools in Texas churning out PharmD’s every year. So it is easier to just stay put and wait it out…Wrong! Don’t do it.More »

ahs pharmstat, pharmacists, pharmacy, technology

The 99% Rule

Having practiced now for 18 years both in the U.K and in the USA, I have often found myself wondering what we really do to earn our salaries. In a time when the practice of pharmacy has become more and more automated and patient contact continues to diminish, it is easy to stand back from the counter and wonder what kind of a difference we are really making. The role of the pharmacist continues to evolve, albeit not at the rate we envisioned in our halcyon days in pharmacy school. We have seen Nurse practitioners’ numbers triple, Physician Assistant schools multiply and various other allied health fields spring up and yet, it may feel as if we still spend most of our days folding paper, counting pills and scanning our lives away, especially in retail.More »

pharmacist jobs, pharmacists, pharmacy, pharmacy jobs, pharmacy staffing

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