Pharmacists

Post by **Xouqoa** » May 28, 2005, 2:59 am

Why, when you go to the pharmacy, do they tell you it will take 20 minutes (or more) to fill a prescription, even if it is something simple that is pre-packaged and all they have to do is put a label on it?

Is there some super complicated behind the scenes thing that I don't know about, or is it all bullshit and they are just lazy and slow?

Fash · Post by **Fash** » May 28, 2005, 3:32 am

it's gotta be a power thing.... yeah that'll be 20 minutes, i just have to walk around and make you wait here while i do shit for people who aren't here yet..

Sargeras · Post by **Sargeras** » May 28, 2005, 3:33 am

Antsy to pick up your viagra today?

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » May 28, 2005, 3:35 am

Because they have other things to do at the time. You don't think they are just sitting there waiting to fill your prescription do you!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » May 28, 2005, 4:26 am

Don't they have drive through pharmacies back there?

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » May 28, 2005, 5:49 am

Over here they have some safety procedues your meds have to go through before they hand them out, something like at least 2 different pharmacists have to make sure it is the correct drug you are given and so on.

I have been told that is why it takes a little time somtimes.

Lynnsie · Post by **Lynnsie** » May 28, 2005, 10:31 am

It depends on what kind of prescription it is. But usually you are told to wait the 20 min because you came at the end of the line and you suck at life

If it's a narcotic then they have certain books that have the inventory of Narcotic only substances. When a narcotic prescription is filled, say 15 tablets of Vicodin, they have to go in "the book" and write how much they handed out and initial by the name of that drug, then the Pharmacist has to double check their count and their record in said book. I worked in a Pharmacy my freshman and sophomore year in college and even though when you walk up to the Pharmacy counter and to you, they don't look busy, they are most likely swamped all to hell. Not only do you have to remember the walk-in prescriptions but also the phone calls from doctor's offices, and from regular customers re-filling their prescriptions. So considering the amount of shit that is going on behind the Pharmacy counter, 20 min isn't really that bad of a wait at all

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » May 28, 2005, 12:20 pm

aye it takes 20 minutes ... when you come in you get to at the end of said line ....

All drugs must be checked by the pharmacist even if a tech fills it and its all right .. the pharmacist still must check it ... and the phone is constantly ringing and doctors offices are calling phone in refills... also have you ever had to count out 350 pills before and double check it ... and had 7 perscriptions in a row like that ... it takes awhile to count them .... also they might have to contant your insurance company and in the middle of all that ... they might be trying to put away their drug order that game in that has around 150+ pill bottles in it ...

and there are other factors that pop in as well ...

but thats the main jist

oh yea i forgot to add what this one pharmacist said ...

some people don't understand this isn't fast food, if we make a mistake is could kill them.

Post by **Xouqoa** » May 28, 2005, 2:04 pm

I can understand if they are busy and have to count 350 pills. But what about the prepackaged pills? We got some Z-Pack antibiotic (stupid sinus infection) the other day and it took Target 25 minutes to get it ready. 5 pills, prepackaged.

Also, last night I was picking up some pain meds for my dad who just had surgery. They told us 20 minutes. We sit there a while, and the pharmasist asks at approximately 20 minutes if generics are okay. 2 minutes later, we're paid and out the door. Dubya tee eff?

Lynnsie · Post by **Lynnsie** » May 28, 2005, 3:12 pm

Well I would guess with stuff like Zithromax and pre-packaged antibiotics etc, it's all about waiting your turn. Would be my best guess. It's not like if there are 5 people in front of you and you only have a really quick order to fill, that the Pharmacist can just be like "Here ya go sir, fuck these other 5 people. You have a nice day!" Other said 5 people are then drama causing whores like half the fucks that visit this message board and then there are complaints, etc, etc..

If there are no other people in front of you, then my guess would have to say that the "20 min" is just a habit for them to say, a good guess on how long is the MAX you'll have to wait for your prescription. When you bring in a script to the Pharmacy, if you've been there before and they already have your info in the computers they use, they just pull it up by name, check it by birthdate, make sure your insurance is still up to date. If you have insurance usually depending on the kind of prescription plan you are on it will default to Generic, unless there is no generic for that brand of prescription. I don't think Z-pak's have a generic counterpart if I remember correctly, but it's been a few years. If your doctor writes DNS on the script, meaning Do Not Substitute for a generic brand, then your price goes up quite a bit more and they have to go in the computers in a different program and check how much it is for that particular medicine according to your insurance company.

Lots of variables to consider when going into a Pharmacy and getting a prescription filled. That's why I said in my above post, even if the pharmacy looks lifeless when you walk up to the counter, they may infact be really busy, but with stuff you just can't see.

Edit: Added a few extra thoughts

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » May 28, 2005, 4:19 pm

I have no problem with 20mins for a script, think about if it happened at drive thru speeds and just how often drive thru orders are wrong.

Raistin · Post by **Raistin** » May 29, 2005, 12:22 am

Oh stop your bitching! Waaaa I have to wait 20 mins Waaaa my mexican worker isnt doing enough for the 4 dollars he is making Waaa!

Its not like you have work to do slackass, so whats the rush?!

landertime · Post by **landertime** » June 1, 2005, 5:26 pm

man my sister (who is a pharmacist) asked me to come in and work the till one afternoon when they were understaffed.

first fuckin customer asked me for a large tube of ky jelly.

laugh? i nearly shat.

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » June 1, 2005, 10:39 pm

i love there ... sir where are the supasatories ...

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » June 2, 2005, 10:54 am

WHY DON'T YOU QUIT BITCHING AND BECOME A PHARMACIST IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT HUH??

Phugg_Innay · Post by **Phugg_Innay** » June 2, 2005, 11:55 am

My sweety is a Pharmacy tech. For about 7 years she worked the retail side (Longs, Safeway) 20 mins is about right for most things. Like others said its not like McD's and they just grab whats on the rack and dish it out. Its a whole lot more. The databases they have to use are archaic at best, add to that 2 or 3 different ones to use (drug makers type generic vs name, and insurances)
Luckily for her she now works ina refill center for the entire No Cal range for Kaiser. There they can fill upwards of 25,000 a night vs the old retail way , max was around 250. If you have Kaiser , use the automated refill line , it gets to you within 2 or 3 days Max , and keeps my sweety making more $ than I do.

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » June 3, 2005, 12:47 am

yes .. .you have lovely commands like ... ~9 ...~3 ... shift 5 ... all sorts of shit .. and you gotta type in stuff like t 1 c 2d and shit im not sure if thats right ... i try and stay away from the computer at all possible

Deward · Post by **Deward** » June 3, 2005, 10:58 am

In many states, the pharmacists have to verify every narcotic prescription with the doctors. Too many people are faking their vicoden prescriptions. I just drop my prescrips off and come back later.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » June 3, 2005, 1:07 pm

My last trip to the pharmacy:

Got in wrong line, ,could not take my order in that line, went to the other line.

Gave my request, was told a 'few' minuutes.

Went to Candy Aisle.

Bought Big Hot Tamales, Gummie Savers and HOLY SHIT, THEY HAVE CARAMEL BULLSEYES!! Carmel Bullseyes ftw.

Went on another aisle and purchased a garden gnome. Three bags of candy, Garned gnome and 12 aisles to go.

Shit, Chunky Monkey in the freezer aisle. Three Bags O candy, Gnome and a pint of Chuhnk Munk.

Fuck, IBC Cheery Limeade is on sale. Getting a basket now.

Somehow made it back to teh Candy Aisle, put back the Gummy Savers picked up another bag of CARAMEL BULLSEYES FTW!!!!!

Sauntered back to the Pharmacy (nobody else was fucking there and there are six goddammn people back there to get my order) and PU a Cintronella Candle.

Hot Tamales, IBC Cheery Limeade, Cinrronella Candle Cunky Monkey, t\wo bags of Bullseyes ... yeah I FUCKING KNOW WHY IT TAKE 20 MINUTES FOR THE PRESCRIPTION!

leeches.

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » June 4, 2005, 12:22 am

heh ... some 400 lb lady at k-mart tried to get 123 valium tables ... she wrote a 1 in front of the 23 before she turned in the script and they caught her and called the nartoics task force! yay!