Drug Topics - May 12, 2008 - (Page 84)

84 DRUG TOPICS MAY 12, 2008 www.drugtopics.com VIEWPOINT Don Gudenas, Pharm.D., CDM Navigating through pharmacy: Like reading confusing street signs he smooth operation of a typical retail pharmacy department depends on the ability of trained support personnel to perform their daily task efficiently and accurately. Unfortunately, the training of technicians can be very difficult and frustrating due to the lack of standard guidelines to follow for some of the most basic of technician tasks. A good pharmacy technician needs to be able to read a prescription, identify the product being prescribed to confirm its availability, and submit a prescriptionbilling claim to the appropriate prescription benefit manager. Prescriptions are presented daily in a variety of formats, some of which are nearly impossible for even an experienced pharmacist to interpret, much less a newly hired technician. Recognizing brand and generic names is difficult enough in itself without adding the complexities of dual brands (Bactrim/Septra, Diabeta/Micronase, Proventil/Ventolin, etc.); multi-dosage forms (Cardizem, Cardizem SR, Cardizem CD, etc.); multi-indications (Wellbutrin/Zyban); new formulations with same name, but different NDC (Duet DHA); and product line extensions sharing the same name (Tylenol whatever). And then, there is the mother of all pharmacy frustrations: insurance T THE AUTHOR is a pharmacy manager and clinical specialist who practices at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Willowick, Ohio. Photos: Jim Shive card processing. Expecting someone who has never worked in a pharmacy to completely appreciate the frustrations that the above may present is difficult. To better illustrate what pharmacy associates are up against, let me use an analogy to reading street signs. Imagine being in a strange town, attempting to navigate your way around by reading the street signs. Most places use a standard format of identifying streets by placing a pole at the corner of the street with the name of the street at the top of the pole. Now imagine that this strange town that you are visiting does not use this standard format, but instead uses a variety of formats to identify the streets including: • The traditional pole at the corner of the street • A hanging sign above the intersection • Painting the name flat on the street itself • A sign on the side of a nearby building • Painting the name on the curb • A sign in the landscaping on the corner • A marker down the street a little ways • No sign at all, you have to ask • A sign with a different name, but the locals know what it really is • None of the above. Surely someone can think of another place to put the sign. Like confusing street signs, the lack of standardization in the formats used for some of the core functions in pharmacy is impeding efficiency, increasing errors, and making things far more difficult than they should be. The workflow in the pharmacy just might be a little smoother and efficient if prescriptions were all legible and written the same way, if the names of products were a little less confusing, and if processing an insurance claim was almost like swiping a credit card at the register. Using the street sign analogy, I think the public can better understand what pharmacists and pharmacy technicians face on a daily basis. Let’s work together to bring about greater standardization in retail pharmacy. This would help reduce the growing stress and frustration pharmacists now feel with an increasing prescription volume. http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - May 12, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters R.Ph.s Say More Needs to be Done to Prevent Pediatric Drug Errors There's a New School of Thought on Use of Beta-Blockers for Hypertension Cover Story Guest Spot Letters Clinical Practice Special Report Professional Practice Broad Label for New Leukemia Therapy Looks Promising Treating Asthma During Pregnancy Safer than Not, Says New Guide In the Pipeline Clinical Q&A APhA Leader's Plan to Leave Office Takes Center Stage at its Conference Policies Passed at a Glance Giving a Talk to the Community? Check Out These Materials This Foundation has Funds to Spare JP at Large Cover Story: Employers and R.Ph.S: A Win-Win Combo FDA's Ilisa Bernstein Discusses Pharmacy Affairs Legal Q&A Manufacturers Unleash a Rash of Poison Ivy Treatments Are OTC Cold Remedies Safe for Kids? Probiotics are All the Rage: How You Can Capitalize on It CMS' Prices for Round One of DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Raising Concerns CVS Caremark's Mentoring Program Recruits and Retains R.Ph.s Antibiotic Resistance Among Community Pathogens Technology Update New Products Advertisers Index Classified Viewpoint

Drug Topics - May 12, 2008

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