PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Winter 2020 - 24

PHARMACY HEADACHES: Addressing Common Concerns with Retail Pharmacies

* Provide handouts on common toxins
such as xylitol or human NSAIDs.
* Maintain patience when
pharmacists do call with questions.
Use these conversations as a chance
to educate them and encourage
them to continue calling.
* Reach out to local pharmacy groups
or schools and offer to provide a
lecture.

disease. Additionally, veterinarians may
end up handling upset clients who receive
misinformation from their pharmacist.
Despite the increased awareness,
errors are still common. In a recent
survey of Pennsylvania veterinarians,
94% of respondents indicated they had
experienced a problem or issue when
clients tried to fill prescriptions at retail
pharmacies.11 Many of the problems
outlined in the OVMA report were also
reported by Pennsylvania veterinarians.

What can we as veterinarians do
to improve the situation?
Our goal as veterinarians should be to
ensure the best outcomes for our patients
when sending prescriptions to outside
pharmacies. Building relationships with
local pharmacists is one of the most
important things that can
be done. This can be done in many ways,
including:
* Contact local pharmacies and
establish yourself as an expert and
encourage them to contact you with
questions.
* Consider providing an old copy of a
Plumb's or other drug handbook

24 | Keystone Veterinarian

Ultimately, it will take both veterinarians
and pharmacists working together to
improve the situation and prevent errors.
We know problems with pharmacies
are common and frustrating, but we
encourage veterinarians to take the
first step towards better working
relationships. Neither the veterinarian
or the pharmacist wants to see a patient
harmed, and we can work together
to reduce conflict between the two
professions and maximize patient safety.
Stay tuned for part 2, where Drs.
Boatright and Eichstadt-Forsythe will
address common medication errors
in more detail, including strategies for
preventing each type of error. We will
also discuss NPI and DEA numbers,
guidelines for writing clear prescriptions,
risks of counterfeit medications from
online pharmacies, controlled substance
concerns, and more.
Are there other questions you have or
challenges you have faced when working
with retail or online pharmacies? You are
encouraged to submit your questions,
comments or cases to our experts by
using our online form at bit.ly/pharmheadaches.
Today's Veterinary Business. Veterinarians
sell 62% of pet drugs. Available at: https://
todaysveterinarybusiness.com/veterinarianssell-62-pet-drugs/. Accessed July 3, 2019.
(1)

PBA Health. How pharmacies can gain a
share of the profitable veterinary medicine
market. Available at: https://www.pbahealth.
com/veterinary-medicine-independent(2)

continued from page 23

pharmacy/. Accessed Sept 1, 2018.
Various. Industry Insight & State of the
Profession Seminar. Available at: http://navc.
com/download/2018_VMX_State_of_the_
Profession_Presentation.pdf. Accessed July 3,
2019.
(3)

FTC Staff. Competitions in the pet
medications industry. Available at: https://
www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/
competition-pet-medications-industryprescription-portability-distributionpractices/150526-pet-meds-report.pdf. Accessed
Sept 15, 2018.
(4)

AVMA@Work Editor. Prescription mandates:
new bill, same problems. Available at: https://
atwork.avma.org/2018/05/08/prescriptionmandates-new-bill-same-problems/. Accessed
Aug 20, 2018.
(5)

(6)
AVMA. Principles of Veterinary Medical
Ethics.
(7)
NABP. Regulators and Stakeholders Explore
Means to Support Safe Dispensing of Pet
Medications by Community Pharmacies.
Newsletter NABP 42(7):145-150.

NABP. Updated Model Act Available;
Amended Language Addresses Timely
Pharmacy Practice Topics. Newsletter NABP
44(8):157-158.
(8)

Kolb G. Veterinary Prescriptions & Retail
Pharmacies Summary of Membership Survey.
Available at: https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/
files/documents/public_comments/requestcomments-and-announcement-workshop-petmedications-issues-project-no.p121201-56089100569/560891-00569-84588.pdf. Accessed Aug
22, 2018.
(9)

Fender KR. Oregon veterinarians tally
retail pharmacists' mistakes. Available at:
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/oregonveterinarians-tally-retail-pharmacists-mistakes.
Accessed Aug 22, 2018.
(10)

Unpublished data from PA pharmacy survey
conducted by Dr. Brian Langlois.
(11)

http://www.bit.ly/pharm

PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Winter 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Winter 2020