I like Eckerd's Pharmacy Computer System. It's the main reason that continue
to work there. Each terminal has 3-4 different sessions that one can sign on
to in order to fill prescriptions. Internet access is pretty reasonably
liberal-- we can search with Google-- and go to any pharmacy-business-related
site. We also have access to Clinical Pharmacology 2000 online, which is a
decent reference.
It never seems to crash. And, it only locks up if you press enter too many
times while adjusting the order. But, there's a way to get it unlocked without
rebooting.
Entering a new prescription for an established patient is quite efficient with
this system as well... you just tab & use function keys through one form for
most prescriptions & then use a function key to accept adjudication. Filing a
prescription (or putting it on hold) is even easier. And, once a prescription
is entered & adjudicated, you're done with the computer... no having to wait to
scan the presciption in. no having to go back the computer to see what has or
hasn't been adjudicated. no having to wait for the label with the bar code to
print out. no having to scan the bar code so you can wait for the computer to
look up the prescription & show you what the drug should look like. I can do a
very thorough check of the NDC on the bottle & the Rx label as well as a very
thorough check of the drug & patient name on an Rx label in the time it takes
to do all that scanning & waiting. Is Eckerd the only chain that has this kind
of system? I hope not. But, from what I'm hearing, they might be.
>I like Eckerd's Pharmacy Computer System. It's the main reason that continue
>to work there.
I liked Rite Aid's computer system (RADS) too, but it wasn't enough to
keep me working there, once you factored in all the other stuff.
> Each terminal has 3-4 different sessions that one can sign on
>to in order to fill prescriptions.
This is common; my current employer is using PDX (spit) and we can log
on each terminal four times. I think this is more a function of AIX
(IBM's almost-unix for the RS/6000 series) than of the software running
thereon; every time you log in, it just spawns another process.
RADS also let you have up to four sessions per *store*. (I.e. you could
have two terminals logged on twice each, or one terminal four times,
etc.) This was undocumented, but spread through word of mouth from one
pharmacist to another. Unimaginable chaos resulted if you tried to open
a fifth session...
>Internet access is pretty reasonably
>liberal-- we can search with Google-- and go to any pharmacy-business-related
>site. We also have access to Clinical Pharmacology 2000 online, which is a
>decent reference.
Oh, don't I wish. There's exactly one website we have access to in my
current orkplace, that being https://coe.amerisourcebergen.com/ , when
it works. Worse is that the web browser isn't being run locally, but as
a Citrix Metaframe connection to a server in corporate HQ, which often
gets bogged down to the extent that you can start typing (or moving the
mouse, etc.) and have to wait several seconds until the server notices
you've done anything. Gets frustrating when you type in the item number,
click on "Update PO", and then have to wait maybe 15 seconds to find out
you've done a typo and ordered leg urinals or something equally weird.
I can see the necessity for it (probably don't want the employees to be
checking stock prices/reading Usenet/surfing pr0n/downloading warez,
etc., on the company's nickel). Doesn't make it any less frustrating.
We're supposed to be getting access to Facts & Comparisons Online pretty
soon.

Signature
Shalom
Glenn Gilbreath Jr. - 01 Jan 2002 06:00 GMT
>From: Shalom Septimus <druggist@p0b0x.c0m>
>Subject: Re: Pharmacy Computer Systems
>Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 20:23:02 -0400
>>I like Eckerd's Pharmacy Computer System. It's the main reason that continue
>>to work there.
>I liked Rite Aid's computer system (RADS) too, but it wasn't enough to
>keep me working there, once you factored in all the other stuff.
>> Each terminal has 3-4 different sessions that one can sign on
>>to in order to fill prescriptions.
>This is common; my current employer is using PDX (spit) and we can log
>on each terminal four times. I think this is more a function of AIX
>(IBM's almost-unix for the RS/6000 series) than of the software running
>thereon; every time you log in, it just spawns another process.
>RADS also let you have up to four sessions per *store*. (I.e. you could
>have two terminals logged on twice each, or one terminal four times,
>etc.) This was undocumented, but spread through word of mouth from one
>pharmacist to another. Unimaginable chaos resulted if you tried to open
>a fifth session...
>>Internet access is pretty reasonably
>>liberal-- we can search with Google-- and go to any pharmacy-business-related
>>site. We also have access to Clinical Pharmacology 2000 online, which is a
>>decent reference.
>Oh, don't I wish. There's exactly one website we have access to in my
>current orkplace, that being https://coe.amerisourcebergen.com/ , when
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>click on "Update PO", and then have to wait maybe 15 seconds to find out
>you've done a typo and ordered leg urinals or something equally weird.
>I can see the necessity for it (probably don't want the employees to be
>checking stock prices/reading Usenet/surfing pr0n/downloading warez,
>etc., on the company's nickel). Doesn't make it any less frustrating.
>We're supposed to be getting access to Facts & Comparisons Online pretty
>soon.
Hmm, my company uses PDX also, on AIX...last May, they installed
an IBM NetVista, 2.2 gHz Pentium 4, 1 gig RAM, 40 gig HD, Win2K Pro..
with Lotus Notes, WinPDX, and HIPAA signature capture software via
WinPDX...Lotus Notes slows everything on the NetVista to a crawl...
the RISC 6000 system runs AIX 4.3.2, PDX version 4.6, on a 233 mHz
PowerPC RISC CPU...all basically in text mode, so it seems quick.
As for Internet...none! They trust pharmacists not one ioata! So,
I provide my own via a little IBM PC330 Pentium 75 running Win31
which is from our wholesaler, McKesson, for EconoLink...it's old,
but still running. I even installed the dialer from MS IE 3.03
with Opera 3.62, FoxMail for email, and that at least gives me some
Internet access while at work...along with AOHell 3.0, hehe!
C U L8R!
Wiz <{;-)
Wizard57M
Glenn Gilbreath Jr.
Registered Pharmacist
http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm
-- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! --