Types of Patients (see what I deal with?)

Aaaargh. I've seen many of these before, but my personal most hated is the Mystery Name. While working as a clerk for the chain of K's, I ran into one of these who picked up some diabetes medication. She even ripped open the bag and looked right at the label, and didn't say a word about it. I got bitched at so badly for it by the rph that I went home crying, after calling her back and apologizing profusely while sorting it out. It's made me extremely wary of any patient with an accent that I cannot understand.

how about people who refuse to understand that prescriptions do expire. just because s/he has taken the atenolol for the past 3 decades doesn't mean they don't need the rx renewed by the doctor at least once or twice (depending on the state) a year. coincidently, they always come on a weekend and won't appreciate if you offer to advance them a couple tablets until you get an approval from the md.

I was wondering what type of hours do pharmacists work. There are kids who make $90k a year right out of pharmacy school. Is that off of a 40 hour work week? I know This has nothing to do with your post, but you seemed like a good person to ask.

Haha, I saw a "race carder" while waiting in the dctor's office this week. She was upset that the doctor looked at a patient who had arrived at the office earlier because her appointment was actually earlier. She was telling the secretary that she can't run the office that way, and said, "It's because I'm not Chinese, isn't it?"

Oh yeah, the woman who said that was white. I think only white people have the guts to say that crap (sorry for the stereotyping).

LOL Actually no it's not always white people. When I was working at Kmart a woman came in with a fat stack of prescriptions and her expired insurance. She stormed out saying we wouldn't fill her prescriptions because she was black. She came back a few hours later and wanted them filled, then decided she didn't want them and was taking them somewhere else. She said she talked to the "big wigs" at her insurance and they said her insurance was valid. Of course they did, she never asked about the PRESCRIPTION insurance. So anyway, she stormed out again saying "you ain't gotta fill mah prescriptions cuz im black! you ain't gotta see me again cuz i'm black! i ain't comin back here cuz im black!" Every sentence that woman uttered had "cuz i'm black" attached to the end.

Oh, that goddam cell-phone shouter. I had one just the other day that was dropping off an rx for her kid, had never been there before, and after every question I asked (phone number, address, birthday- you know the frivolous stuff) she sighed into the phone, rolled her eyes, said "Hang on..." into the phone and stated the answer in a tone that says I clearly should have been able to glean that information out of the clear blue sky. By the time I got to allergies I was sick of her and I shoved the rx back across the counter and said "When you're done with the call, I'll help you." and walked away. That bitch had the nerve to complain about me to corporate and say how rude I was!

My name is Tim Redman.In reference to the automated dispensing machines,I have seen 3 types.Baker cell (sucks),Scriptpro (Rite Aid has this monstrosity-too slow and takes up too much room), and Parata (which we have).By far Parata is the best-very effecient and takes up only the space of a back-to-back bay (approximately 2 feet wide and 6-7 feet long).Filling the cells is easy but must watch for dessicants and product information packets.I highly recommend this machine.It is a little aggravating at the start,but it is worth it in the long run. Tim Redman,RPh Pharmacy Place-Port Huron,Michigan.Phone is (810)989-3455 if you want more info.No,I am not a rep for this company,only a staff pharmacist who has been working in a pharmacy since 1959.Your site is excellent!

how about the sunday birth control girls. these are the girls who come in on sunday night 5 min before closing and want a refill but did not call it in and took their last pill yesterday. now they dont have a number, their pack or bother to look at their pack to see that they have no refills. they look at you shocked when you say you can't fill it with out a refill or a prescription. "but they get it all the time." "can they just pay for it" no dumbass, its a prescription. call your doctor tomorrow and double up. next time pay attention to the label on your pack when it says no refills allowed authorization required.

My personal favorite is the non-stop talker. It's not that they are bad people. It's just that they don't know how to end conversations in a timely fashion. They are usually older and the rest of their family is either dead or has long since learned not to talk to them anymore. At the pharmacy where I work, us techs will usually try to work it out so that whoever had to listen to their story at the drop-off window is not the one to ring them out.

Absolutely love your blog. A visiting pharmacist told me about this site, and I enjoyed it so much I think I've read all archives in about 3 days. Now I recommend your material to ALL pharmacists I know.
How about this one... I had a patient(retired MD) insist he count the tablets of his four prescriptions (full year supply for all) because he recently read an article about pharmacies ripping people off. I was stupefied, and told my pharmacist that I would (out of sheer curiosity) humor his request. I provided him with a spare bottle, a tray and spatula, and an area of counterspace to execute his madness. Instead of the spatula, he used his shaky and uncooperative fingers (good-god).. His nose was running and dripping on the tray full of tablets and my counter, but he was unphased (A-f'n-mazing).. Instead of the spare bottle, into a small cardboard box go the tablets (this is a joke right?).. He:"I lost count, did you follow my count by chance?" Me:"I'm sorry you were mumbling to yourself mostly." He:"Oh...two,four,six".
To wrap this up he only got to around 200 on his first med before he conceeded that he could "geuss that they look okay".
Everyday it occurs to me that I have not yet "seen it all".

Fed!!!!!!!!