UR_xProbablyR_xight

Meds & Counsel without Patience for Patients

Ever heard of Dick’s Last Resort? Never been to the restaurant myself, but I love the concept. It’s like the court jester in medieval times being able to tell the King the harsh truth since everything he said was in—you guessed it—jest. Why has no pharmacy taken up this business practice? If patients expect harsh but fair truth from the pharmacy team, they’ll accept it readily.

Welcome to UR_xProbablyR_xight. The pharmacy of the future where we provide “Meds & Counsel without Patience for Patients.”

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Come On, It’s Just 3 Days

[Tech]: “Wait! Mr. Paulson.”
[Patient]: “Yeah, what’s up?”
[Tech]: “Sorry, ‘bout yelling—wanted to catch you before you ventured too far. This prescription’s actually expired.”
[Pt]: “What’ya mean expired? I haven’t even filled it yet.”
[Tech]: “Yeah, but state law says a prescription has to be filled for the first time within 6 months of when it was written.”
[Pt]: “It was only written, like, 2 months ago, wasn’t it?”
[Tech]: “It was written November 7^th.”
[Pt]: “Wait. Okay, so November 7^th to December 7^th, January 7, February 7, March, April, May 7^th.”
[Tech]: “My fingers told me the same thing: over 6 months.”
[Pt]: “But today’s the 7^th, so it’s still good.”
[Tech]: “It’s May 10^th.”
[Pt]: “Fine, whatever. That’s only 3 days. You’re gonna make a fuss about 3 days?”
[Tech]: “You had 6 months.”
[Pt]: “Can I talk to the pharmacist?”
[Tech]: “Sure thing.” “Hey Marianne, there’s a question at drop-off. His Rx was written over 6 months ago.”
[Rph]: “Thanks, Kay.” “So, what can I do for you Mr. Paulson?”
[Pt]: “She said the prescription was written 6 months and 3 days ago, so she can’t fill it.”
[Rph]: “And she’s correct. Our computer system wouldn’t allow us to, even if we wanted to break the law.”
[Pt]: “But it’s just 3 days!”
[Rph]: “It’s 6 months and 3 days. And listen—if we made an exception for you for 6 months and 3 days, then we’d have to make an exception for 6 months and 4 days for the next guy, then 6 and 5 days for the lady after him, then 6 and 6. You see where this is going? Eventually we’d be filling prescriptions written back in the Carter administration.”
[Pt]: “Well that’s just ridiculous!”
[Rph]: “I’m glad you agree. So, you want the expired prescription back, or shall I shred it for you?”
[Pt]: “You’re really not gonna fill it?!”
[Rph]: . . .

. . . [As a pharmacist at UR_xProbablyR_xight, how do you get through to
Mr. Paulson that you won’t be filling his prescription?]

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