how important is privacy to patient counseling

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Dr. Wayne Simon - 03 Jul 2007 16:13 GMT

Do patients or pharmacists consider privacy
or lack of privacy a major issue when providing
counseling on prescription drug usage?

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Pumbaa - 03 Jul 2007 23:14 GMT

> Do patients or pharmacists consider privacy
> or lack of privacy a major issue when providing
> counseling on prescription drug usage?

From my experience both as a pharmacist and as a patient (retired
pharmacist), counseling is a myth created by the Federal government and the
State boards of pharmacy. I usually get a bag with my Rxs and stapled to it
are printed instructions. I have used at various times the pharmacy at
Wally World, independent pharmacies, CVS, etc. They all say "sign here"
(which waivers my rights to counseling) and "that will be $xx".

Usually the pharmacist is busy filling the next Rx and my interaction is
with a pharmacy clerk or technician. Granted counseling rules could be
enforced better in some States than others.

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Bob G. - 04 Jul 2007 16:53 GMT

>> Do patients or pharmacists consider privacy
>> or lack of privacy a major issue when providing
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>with a pharmacy clerk or technician. Granted counseling rules could be
>enforced better in some States than others.

==============
I am also a Retired Pharmacist (since 1998..but did one evening a
week until last year) ... Got to agree with the other Retired
Pharmacist ... councseling is 99.9 percent a myth ...Honestly can not
remmber the last time soneone asked for me to help them....THIS IS NOT
TO SAY THAT I DID NOT "FLAG" the bag so my "clerk" knew I wanted to
talk to the patient.. ...

And when I did so I made sure I was face to face with the "customer"
and that both of us were NOT in ear shot of anyone ...

Bob G.

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P T - 06 Jul 2007 06:57 GMT

1 My state, MN, is recently/soon mandating counseling on all new Rx, and
an offer from a tech will no longer be considered to fulfill this
mandate. We'll see what happens.

2 Privacy. Usually you can discuss "personal" prescriptions in vague
terms and the patient will understand, while eavesdroppers will not.

3 Once upon a time, when I was a young pharmacist, a very, very
prominent member of the community came in for her HRT pills. They
weren't ready, weren't even ordered, and I indiscretely named them out
loud, which several other people could not help but overhear. One
customer turned to the patient and said, "Do you use that stuff _____?
You're too young for that."

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Bill - 04 Jul 2007 13:32 GMT

"Dr. Wayne Simon" wrote in message

> Do patients or pharmacists consider privacy
> or lack of privacy a major issue when providing
> counseling on prescription drug usage?

Well I suppose if you had a LOUD pharmacist, and were getting an embarrasing
Rx like for lice, herpes, erection problems, etc, and he/she gave detailed
instructions... "Thirty minutes before you want to get an erection...etc."
(...Everyone in store looks at you.)

However if the pharmacist was soft spoken and just said take one pill 30
minutes before "needed", etc., then no problem.

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Pumbaa - 04 Jul 2007 14:54 GMT

> "Dr. Wayne Simon" wrote in message
> > Do patients or pharmacists consider privacy
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> However if the pharmacist was soft spoken and just said take one pill 30
> minutes before "needed", etc., then no problem.

Do you remember the Monty Python Show? These guys had a bit about a chemist
(pharmacist) who was doing exactly what you are mentioning. Tube of cream
for the guy with the crabs. Cream for the lady with a rash on her breasts.
He takes one look at the woman and says I had better make it an extra large
tube.

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