Ohhh, dat's fine

The following conversation just took place with a woman with a rather heavy accent...

Mrs. Indian: "Do you take outside customers?"

I had to think about it for a minute.

Mad Tech: "So you don't actually see a doctor in this building?"

Mrs. Indian: "You fill liter prescriptions?"

Mad Tech: "What?"

Mrs. Indian: "You fill liter prescriptions, right?"

Mad Tech: "Liter prescriptions?"

Mrs. Indian: "Ohhhh yes, dat's fine. Now do you do compounds and infusions?"

Mad Tech: "No, we don't."

Mrs. Indian: "Ohhhh dat's fine. When do you open in the morning?"

Mad Tech: "At 8:30am."

Mrs. Indian: "Ohhhh dat's fine. I will be up there in the morning then. Thanks goodbye."

*Click*

Yes, I'm still perplexed.

It's the Little Things...

Sometimes there are days when someone comes in and you can just tell they don't have a clue.

For instance, most people know if you call in prescription refills, you give the prescription number, your name, and when you'll be by to pick the prescriptions up.

This doesn't always happen though. Yesterday I received a call from a customer on our refill voicemail. He left the patient's name and prescription numbers, however, as soon as he listed off the numbers I knew they weren't from my pharmacy. I didn't know where they were from actually as he didn't bother to mention where they were from. Attempts to reach this person were fruitless as magically no one was home the rest of the afternoon.

So naturally he comes in today expecting the prescriptions to be filled and is upset when I tell them I was unable to fill them. When I told him why, he couldn't understand why I couldn't just figure it out. If I knew they weren't from us, why didn't I call the other pharmacy. I told him that I didn't know what pharmacy they were from, so how could I call?

Apparently I'm slacking on my psychic abilities again.

I also like being yelled at over copays and drugs not being covered. Apparently the assumption is out there that pharmacies just like to randomly deny giving people their medications. It never occurs to them that there are formularies and regulations on certain medications.

In any case, part one of the day is almost over. Part two will be beginning shortly at my retail job. Can't wait to see what madness awaits there.

Dear Head

I know you're not happy with me for shutting off the caffeine supply, but is it really necessary to continue to be hurting for two days in a row now? This isn't the first time I've cut off the caffeine, so you should be used to this by now.

You are not making my job easier, just so you know.

Must...resist...urge...for...pepsi.

Maybe by tomorrow this withdrawal will start easing up.

Of course, staring at this screen for 8 hours and then another one for 5 more after this won't help.

The Life of a Pharmacy Tech

Let's face it.

It's not easy to be a pharmacy tech.

Between slaving away for what feels like next to nothing (if you're unfortunate enough to work in retail), to being the one most likely to be thrown under the bus if a customer gets angry, the job can be somewhat frustrating at times.

I have had many days where I went home from my retail job and just wanted to open up several "adult" beverages and keep consuming until I no longer had memory of the day, but luckily, I've managed to avoid blatant alcoholism to this point. I've also had the fortunate luck of having a semi-strong sense of humor carry me through the roughest of days.

It doesn't mean I hate my job by any stretch. No, on the contrary, I love what I do. I find it very rewarding to know that I'm doing something to help someone, even if that someone just spent 20 minutes telling me I don't know how to bill his insurance company properly.

There are so many aspects of this job that I could get going on, but I just wanted to take a moment to write a quick hello to this community. I like writing, my job gives me plenty of material, so I figure, what the hell?

I will try to post as regularly as I can, but can't promise anything. The two jobs I maintain occupy a lot of my time and are quite busy jobs at that, plus having an actual life outside of pharmacy can make it challenging. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up some readers, share some old stories, and keep everyone amused with what goes on in a pharmacy.