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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
I've been working 90 hour weeks recently, but that's another story. It's just the work schedule is what made me go to the pharmacy at 8am this morning. I was picking up my Wellbutrin and a couple of other things that the pharmacist messed up, and the nitwit pharm tech was yelling to me which of my meds were screwed up and why. So the whole freaking grocery store knows what I'm taking. Anyway, I'm standing there waiting for them to get my order right, and another woman walks up to get her prescription her doc was supposed to call in.
It was for Lexapro. Why do I know? Because the pharm tech bellowed out that one, too. Her doc apparently hadn't called it in. It seemed like it was a new scrip for this woman, and she looked so sad and distraught that the drug wasn't there. That she was going to have to come back to get it, and god I've been there when it took all your energy just to *get* to the store, much less have to come back.
And I just felt really bad for her, she was just visibly, physically, *low.* It was horrible. I wanted to tell her, hey, yeah, I've been through what you are going through now....she looked all alone. I ended up not saying anything, other than to the store manager about how the pharm tech was shouting out everyone's meds for the world to hear.
If you had been *her* would you want some strange woman coming up and saying she can relate?
I don't know how I would've reacted if the roles were reversed.
Posted by Wildflower on March 2, 2004, at 14:45:41
In reply to Oh, my heart just ached, posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
How horrible that he was screaming out prescriptions! Just think...there are many more embarassing prescriptions to be yelling out than Wellbutrin. Not to belittle your story but I can only imagine some other things being yelled out. :-)
I'm a pretty private person so I would have to say that I'd feel uncomfortable with a stranger trying to comfort me.
Posted by Sabina on March 2, 2004, at 15:39:23
In reply to Oh, my heart just ached, posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
that's a tough call. i wouldn't have minded a "not very discreet, are they?" it would have conveyed a sense of comraderie when she obviously felt like falling through the floor without being too intrusive. anyway, i'm glad you said something to the store manager about the pharm tech on loan from the waitressing staff of waffle house. hopefully it won't happen to anyone else.
Posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 15:46:19
In reply to Re: Oh, my heart just ached » Susan J, posted by Wildflower on March 2, 2004, at 14:45:41
> Just think...there are many more embarassing prescriptions to be yelling out than Wellbutrin.
<<Oh, I know. He yelled out the other scrip for me that was messed up, which I'm too embarassed to post here. I hope the couple of people in line don't know what it is....he used the generic name.
Almost as bad as the time I was with my mother in the grocery store, went to pick an antibiotic prescription, and they wanted to *counsel* me at an open window about how I was on birth control pills and the antibiotic could mess it up. Um, I *knew* that, and I know it's old fashioned or whatever, but I didn't want my mother to know I was on the pill, much less having sex, much less everyone in the store knowing it. Same chain of stores by the way... Hm......
:-)
Posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 15:46:53
In reply to Re: lexapro special with fries. order up!!!, posted by Sabina on March 2, 2004, at 15:39:23
That was too funny! That's *exactly* what it was like.
Posted by Poet on March 2, 2004, at 22:40:46
In reply to Oh, my heart just ached, posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
Hi Susan,
That's a tough one. We should come up with an international signal for empathy-fellow feeling, identifying, etc.
My boss has dropped hints that a coworker is bi-polar, and I wish I could go up to her and say, I'm a member of the mental health issues club. I guess it's don't ask, don't tell at work, but I feel for her.
Poet
Posted by pegasus on March 2, 2004, at 22:41:17
In reply to Oh, my heart just ached, posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
Oh, god, I've been there too. I bet if you had said anything to her, she'd have started crying. I hate situations like there where your compassion just wells up, but you don't know what to do with it.
I probably would have done what you did. But maybe it would have been ok to just turn to her and say, "Are you going to be ok?" She probably would have said yes. Or maybe she would have just fallen apart. Who knows. Don't lose that impulse to help, though. It's precious.
At least you talked to the store manager. That's just inappropriate, yelling out everyone's prescriptions like that.
- p
Posted by Emme on March 3, 2004, at 17:16:09
In reply to Oh, my heart just ached, posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
Hi Susan!
> I've been working 90 hour weeks recently, but that's another story.
That sounds awful. I hope things slow down for you.
> And I just felt really bad for her, she was just visibly, physically, *low.*
I'm with everyone else - it's good that you spoke to the store manager.
> If you had been *her* would you want some strange woman coming up and saying she can relate?Hmm..maybe it would depend on the day. I think if someone just happened to be standing close to me and made a casual remark like "I just hate it when they do that", it would make me feel like someone else shared my frustration. Sometimes when I've come face to face with a distraught stranger, I just say "I hope your day gets better".
Being aware of what's going on with the people around you is such a good thing. You've got a really kind and empathetic soul.
Emme
Posted by sb417 on March 4, 2004, at 0:21:37
In reply to Oh, my heart just ached, posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
If you are in the United States, I'm pretty sure that what your pharmacist/pharm tech did is now against the law. Several months ago, the new patient privacy act went into effect, and those laws apply to pharmacies as well as all medical offices, hospitals, etc. In fact, my pharmacy had to construct an entirely new counter so that patients can drop off prescriptions and talk to the pharmacist privately without other customers overhearing the conversation. Perhaps you can print out the new HIPPA rules and give them to your pharmacist, or have your doctor call them.
Posted by Elle2021 on March 4, 2004, at 0:38:08
In reply to Oh, my heart just ached, posted by Susan J on March 2, 2004, at 14:05:58
My pharmacist does the same thing. Does anyone know who or where to report this sort of thing?
Elle
Posted by sb417 on March 4, 2004, at 0:53:51
In reply to Sb417, posted by Elle2021 on March 4, 2004, at 0:38:08
Hi Elle,
I will try to find out about reporting. My pharmacy was pretty bad regarding privacy until the new law went into effect. Since the HIPPA started, they've actually been pretty good. Is your pharmacy part of a chain (such as CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreen's, etc)? If so, perhaps there is some central office where you can report this. Until we can find out where to complain, I think it's worth mentioning to your doctor. Perhaps he or she can call the manager of the pharmacy and remind them of their legal obligations.
Posted by EmmyS on March 4, 2004, at 7:39:57
In reply to Elle2021 » Elle2021, posted by sb417 on March 4, 2004, at 0:53:51
What a good point about HIPPA. They must be under the same regulations.
What I see all the time is this....the Drop Off counter is private, no customers around, no products to buy except diabetic candy, and no one at the counter ever asks me a thing. But at the Pick Up counter, there is the cash register, candy, a long line of customers, videos, soda, more customers, and THEN they ask, "DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PHARMACIST?"
Ugh. Yeah...can I still have orgasms if I take this pink pill? will I ever move my bowels again if I take the yellow pill? Jeepers!
No wonder we're crazy.
Emmy
Posted by Susan J on March 4, 2004, at 7:53:03
In reply to Your pharmacist broke the law » Susan J, posted by sb417 on March 4, 2004, at 0:21:37
Good Point. I forgot about HIPAA.
In Maryland, you can make a complaint to the Board of Pharmacy. I'm sure most states are like that.
I actually might do that....the store manager didn't seem too concerned with the pharm tech dude mouthing off everywhere....
Posted by judy1 on March 4, 2004, at 11:31:07
In reply to Where to report your pharmacist » sb417, posted by Susan J on March 4, 2004, at 7:53:03
i'm glad you are going to report the pharmacist, that was extremely unprofessional. i've picked up anti-psychotics a number of times (for some reason this one bothers me the most), and my pharmacist is always discreet with me as he is with everyone who picks up a prescription. the law is pretty clear in my state. i hope you're able to resolve this.
take care, judy
Posted by gardenergirl on March 4, 2004, at 15:04:57
In reply to HIPPA and privacy and stuff, posted by EmmyS on March 4, 2004, at 7:39:57
They definitely fall under HIPPA. I know, because I get a prescription for my dog at the pharmacy. They gave MY DOG a copy of the HIPPA statement (I had to sign it, of course.) What was I supposed to do, read it to her? Let her eat it, as she really likes to eat paper? Sheesh.
But yes, they definitely broke privacy laws by shouting out like that. That is more than incidental disclosure, IMO.
gg
Posted by Elle2021 on March 4, 2004, at 19:31:19
In reply to Elle2021 » Elle2021, posted by sb417 on March 4, 2004, at 0:53:51
> I will try to find out about reporting.
Thanks, I really appreciate that. I tried doing a google search, but I didn't come across any info. that was in English...well...plain English that is.
>Is your pharmacy part of a chain (such as CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreen's, etc)? If so, perhaps there is some central office where you can report this.
Yeah it is, I think I will find out where I can call and complain. None of the assistants are very discreet either.
Until we can find out where to complain, I think it's worth mentioning to your doctor. Perhaps he or she can call the manager of the pharmacy and remind them of their legal obligations.I'll do that!
Thanks again.
Elle
Posted by confetti on March 5, 2004, at 18:03:07
In reply to Re: HIPPA and privacy and stuff, posted by gardenergirl on March 4, 2004, at 15:04:57
> ...I get a prescription for my dog at the pharmacy. They gave MY DOG a copy of the HIPPA statement ...>>
ROFL!! I got my big belly laugh for the day! :o)
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