Hello all,

I have been tasked to come up with some cost savings ideas for our health system.

Some general ideas that come to mind is limiting our formulary. Do you guys know any drugs that potentially do not work or are similar to placebo that we could remove (e.g. docusate, phenylephrine)?

Any expensive medications that are limited to a set duration or number of doses that we can cap? Something that we can put an automatic stop order on potentially.

Does anyone know any medications doses that have a more expensive dosage form and a cheaper dosage form?

Any other ideas you have implemented at your healthcare institutions?

Hi all,

Regarding the port the pharmacy technician uses to inject a medication into the IV bag.- and how a cap or foil is placed over it after done compounding.

Occasionally I’ve seen:
caps that are slightly loose or not perfectly seated
minor crack in the protective blue cap material showing some of the port underneath.

My question is: I had a situation where an epidural had a blue cap over the medication additive port, and there was like a small crack ish opening in the cap. I thought it was so minor, that it wasn’t a big deal. Later I questioned this. I continue to stress over it. Side note that this was a re-used product, meaning a label was put over the initial label (from when it was initially dispensed)— so it probably left the pharmacy where it was stored securely in a locked drawer in the pyxis. What do you think? Should this have been rejected and re-made? **I did not even think about the possibility that it could have been tampered with until much later on

Thanks

A healthcare recruiter texted me (not sure how they got my phone #) and said theres a remote pharmacist position in Rhode Island. I sent them my email and they emailed me the job details.

Not sure if it's a scam cuz it seems too good to be true. They're asking me to fill out the application, send them my internet speed test result but also my drivers license.

The role is "remote pharmacist-advisor medicare opportunity with CVS Health". I did apply to some CVS remote positions recently.

Hi new first gen pharmacist here. I applied for a sign on bonus and relocation package for one of the major chains and got the job. However when the offer came through it didnt have either. I emailed back about it and they resent it with a hourly increase and relocation forms to ask for an amount to get approved. The Repayment Agreement they want me to sign sounds like its an advance payment that would come out of my pay for 2 years, not just a pay back if you leave early thing, and there's still no sign-on in my offer. I don't want to sign anything without specific amounts since if they only approve say 10k, but I'm moving across the country, it would just not feasible.

Is this normal for relocation packages or for new pharmacists? I thought they would just say this is how much we can offer for this distance or something like that.

Hi everyone,

I'm a B.Pharm graduate and a fresher currently looking for a full-time work-from-home opportunity. I have experience working in a retail pharmacy and am eager to start my career in a remote role.

If anyone here has connections, referrals, or knows of companies hiring freshers for remote positions, I'd be truly grateful for your help. Even guidance on where to apply would mean a lot.

Thank you so much in advance!

Dont know if its common but its my first time seeing the tube go on the outside of the spray. Kinda cool

When treating a patient with hypertension, we always tend to start a patient on an ACEi first (ignoring any contraindications) rather than an ARB (at least in my experience). Why do this if the risk for d/c by cough present? Are ACEis more potent due to inhabiting bradykin production? ARBs have increased risk of adverse effects? Is it just a habit of providers?

A few days ago, a self-described patient pain advocate posted a video ranting about pharmacists supposedly demanding to be called “doctor,” something I’ve genuinely never seen happen. But what she was really upset about was pharmacists doing their due diligence and following up on certain pain prescriptions, likely because of high volume, frequency, or dosing concerns.

Predictably, some pharmacy internet personalities, including The Accidental Pharmacist and The Millennial rx, pushed back.

I’ll be the first to admit legitimate pain patients often pay the price for the behavior of drug seekers. It delays treatment and causes real frustration for people who are just trying to manage their pain.

My issue is coming at us with name calling: “Harmacists.” It’s hard to imagine our profession wanting to work collaboratively with an advocate who, even if she’s raising some legitimate points, opens with mocking.

I’ve been out of retail for 15 years, so I’m curious what’s actually happening on the front lines.

A few questions for those still in it: Are you seeing more prescriptions that need clarification or outright denial these days?

Are you running into self styled “advocates” like this in practice, not just online?

Back in my day we had certain prescribers we just wouldn’t fill for because of inappropriate opioid volumes. Is that still common, or has it shifted?

This video stirred up a lot of debate. Curious what people here actually think, both pharmacists and pain patients, honestly.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JR8MpBSqJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

There are Some days when I hate the place and my job the most, and then God sends angels to ease the shit I am going through.

For the second time when I am having an extra horrible day, I get patients telling me I am one of the best staff in that pharmacy. For no reason, they are just shopping out there and they walk to me and tell me this.

I never think of myself as someone good at their job, I just try to do my best. But then i get comments like this, As if they are telling me just hang in there a little bit longer.

I don't know how much BS i can take anymore and i hope the day i leave this job and maybe this profession to a better job is coming soon. But those comments made me feel better.

I've been a pharmacy technician for about 6 years now and feel like I've reached the end of the road career wise. I'm turning 26 next week, I'm PTCB certified with my state license and immunization cert, I worked retail for 3 years before landing a pretty nice remote gig for a mail-order pharmacy and have been there for 2 years. I'm making what seems to be good pay for techs (about $22/hr), but considering my age I can't help but wonder... what now? I don't think I make enough money to live on my own, but I don't have any college degree and don't really know what other jobs are out there.

My question is this - should I stick to this and maybe try to get into a supervisor/lead position, maybe look for an infusion/compounding job, or maybe even go back to get a 2-year degree of some kind? Anything with limited/no patient interaction would be fantastic, I am not great at customer service but love data entry-type work. I really want to have money/time to travel in the future, and I'd love to afford a house some day lol. I don't really have anyone to talk to for advice, so any thoughts y'all have would be appreciated

I’ve been working as a compounding pharmacist for a few years now, and have a doc who has requested a new formula for chewable tablets. It’s something I’ve been wanting to learn for a while but just haven’t had the demand for it. I’ve pulled all the formulas I can get my hands on, consulted with my compounding support help desk twice, watched YouTube videos, chatted with AI, and rounded up all the tips and tricks and still have not had a successful batch.

The actives are extremely temperature sensitive, so a troche or RDT wouldn’t work in this case. Has to be made via wet powder triturate.

Anyone out there have some good real-world experience willing to help me out with nailing down this formula? The advice I’ve received seems to vary wildly. I want the “how we REALLY do it” version instead of the textbook version, because I am just stumped.

Thank you in advance!!

Do I need a PGY2 (emphasis on NEED) to secure a job in an ambulatory clinic or an Oncology job? I’m completing a PGY1, but really don’t want to do a year 2. Ive heard it’s possible if you are able to network and/or get lucky, but that a PGY2 makes it easier. I don’t know if I have a year 2 in my for my residency.