In this month's installment of Pharmacy Chronicles...
Running out of your prescribed medications can be such a hassle. It's the
dealing with the pharmacy staff for me.
Walmart pharmacy tech: "Thank you for calling Walmart pharmacy. How may I help you?"
Me: "I need to have a prescription refilled, but I am already out of the medication, so will I be able to get it today?"
We go through the whole identification spiel, and he proceeds to tell me that I have no refills available because I received a 90- day supply the last time my prescription was filled. At this point, I'm still relatively cool.
Me: "Sir, I could not possibly have taken a 90 days' supply of any medication in 27 days, and still be walking straight. Are you sure you have the correct account?"
Walmart pharmacy tech: "Yes ma'am, you did. It says you received 90 pills on the 24th of last month."
Me: "Baby, that was not a 90-day supply..."
Then, "Yes, it was. It's right here in the system." I felt his tone was inappropriate, and I also felt an expletive trying to escape my, now, tightly pursed lips. When I could no longer hold it, the pharmacist took over the conversation.
The intercessor: "Helloooo, I know, I know. He is mistaken. He does not know that the prescription is for 90 pills every 30 days."
Me: "Thank you, Lord. Wait. Why doesn't he know? I mean, he's only responsible for dispensing prescription drugs to ailing patients, right?"
Here's my question, how often does this happen to unsuspecting patients? There are a couple of concerns for me here. If those who have that job don't know what to dispense, how is the public expected to trust the pharmacy to not overdose us all? Furthermore, what is the required literacy level of a pharmacy tech? I'm just saying.
Elizabeth Thomas is an educator, writer, publisher, entrepreneur, and change agent. She has published three volumes of poetry and two children's books. You can find them at https://www.latterrainpublishing.com/online-store. She is also the Editor-in-Chief for Queen Things Online Magazine. latterrainpublishing.wixsite.com/queenthingszine.
Find Elizabeth on social media at: www.facebook.com/dueseasonwriters,www.instagram.com/essentialeme,www.twitter.com/essentialeme,www.linkedin.com//in/ethomasmpl/
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