Man I don't see why or how y'all put up with that - or actually I guess the
plural would be "all y'all"
Anyway, I know I wouldn't.
I work retail - independent - about 150 a day - 10 compounds a day - 1
pharmacist 3 techs - M-F 8-6 Sat 9-1 and closed on Sunday.
I find time to counsel 100% of the new prescriptions and monitor compliance
on the refills somewhat.
And give immunizations - although I've cut down on that but will crank up
for flu season.
A lot of my patients know me personally (yet they still keep coming back).
Some days are really tough but I know they'll be over at 6pm well sometimes
a little later.
And I'm sure I get my share of pissy people - heck its a retail bidness.
But I am very fortunate to have the worlds best techs that insulate me from
most of the crap and free me up to talk and work with the patients.
I don't count and pour much anymore and I can't say I miss it.
We eat lunch on the go most of the time but will close for lunch if we need
to.

Maybe its good that I don't like working for someone other that me.

Brad

When I don't fill in part time at the RiteAid down the street, they close
the pharmacy for the day.  400scripts average per day.
The area is saturated with pharmacies.  All of them open 14 to 16 hour days.
All of them have drive thrus.  All of them have inadequate tech help.
I used to be able to work 60hr weeks.
f.ck that.
It's too hard anymore.
They want help, they can help themselves by shortning their hours to free up
RPh time and providing an environment that would enable pharmacists to work
overtime.
They've made it so difficult I don't have the strength to work extra.
I used to.
If they would make some small changes, I'd bet they'd see a 30% increase in
their work force.
But then they're MBA's arent they.
From experience I can say they couldn't find their a.s at high noon with
both hands and a guide dog.
So f.ck them.
Let them whine about their shortage.

Larry

A brief item in the latest issue of "Pharmacy Times" said that the
pharmacist shortage continues unabated. The article estimated that, for
example, the US chain drug industry is short 5500 pharmacists. The cause, it
was suggested, is the lenghtening of the pharmacy program by one academic
year to make the Pharm.D. degree.

What else is contributing to the shortage, and to what degree do you think
it is? Lack of secondary school training, interest, and/or ability in
science? Tuition costs? I know that there was a Congressional study on the
issue in the late 1990s, but I'd like to hear from the field. What do you
think?

Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
3609 Caldera Boulevard Apartment 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 USA
432-694-6208
ptrusten@cox.net

"There are two cardinal sins, from which
all the others spring: impatience and laziness."

                                         ---Franz Kafka