patient counseling areas in community pharmacies--are they measuring up?

Paul Trusten, R.Ph. · medicine forum beginner Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 32

A few years after OBRA'90 took effect, I noticed a local Brooks Pharmacy
(when the company was still owned by the Maxi-Drug folks) erecting a
pharmacy office next to the prescription counter. Well, by gum, I thought,
it is really happening---the chains are going to get serious about helping
pharmacists comply with the new law. But, a few months later, I saw what I
feared would happen: the new pharmacy office was being used as a storeroom
for empty plastic totes!

I suppose many are reading the post and saying, "What did you expect?" To
that, I answer here, I still expect a lot, and I'd like to find out if those
in power anywhere in pharmacy share this goal. To what extent are any
community pharmacists, anywhere, structuring your pharmacy to allow for REAL
solving of drug-related problems, i.e., a separate, private office for the
pharmacist for patient interviews?

Thanks for your replies.

Estrace161 · medicine forum beginner Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

"a pharmacist in the U.S.A." <trusten@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:12862162cd4eu88@corp.supernews.com...
|A few years after OBRA'90 took effect, I noticed a local Brooks
Pharmacy
| (when the company was still owned by the Maxi-Drug folks) erecting a
| pharmacy office next to the prescription counter. Well, by gum, I
thought,
| it is really happening---the chains are going to get serious about
helping
| pharmacists comply with the new law. But, a few months later, I saw
what I
| feared would happen: the new pharmacy office was being used as a
storeroom
| for empty plastic totes!

As a pharmacist for 30+ years I have seen lots of ideas come and go.
The only problem that I have with "private rooms" as described above
is that while I am in there, for the privacy of the patient, I am also
responsible for all that is going on outside the room even though I
can't hear it. I monitor all the conversations that my techs are
having with patients - either in person or over the phone. The only
way I could comply with both sets of responsibilities at the same time
is to do ONE AT A TIME. And we know that is not going to happen.
Pharmacists are multi taskers but we do only have one set of ears. I
don't think the public (or our employers) would like it if we demanded
nothing happen while we are out of ear shot in that little "private
room".

An for those of you that work with multiple pharmacists on one
shift....go for it. But until there are more pharmacists to decrease
the pharmacist:technician ratio I am responsible for all that goes on
in the pharmacy while I am on shift......and I want to hear it all.
So my private counselling booth is used as a storage area for patient
pamphlets etc.

A Canadian Pharmacist on the West Coast

Bob G. · medicine forum addict Joined: 09 May 2005 Posts: 62

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