Pet Peeves

Drive-Thru Injections.

I had a customer come to the drive-thru, which has a security drawer like at a bank, and ask if she had to come in to receive a Zostavax injection.

Co-pay ESP.

Patients who expect us to know their co-pay before the prescription has been billed to their insurance.

Drug Sample Bags.

I am director of 5 retail pharmacies in central Michigan. Our business office is located on the first floor of a medical building, and one of our pharmacies is right across the hallway. My office has lots of windows, but, unfortunately, I have to keep the blinds drawn because I just can’t watch the numerous drug reps deliver samples to our building’s physicians. The reps need 2-wheel carts to transport all the drugs. In addition, the patients receive so many samples that they can’t comfortably carry them all. So guess what they do: they stop in the pharmacy to ask for bags in which to carry their samples. Ugh…

Unclear Medication Instructions.

Albuterol inhaler instructions that read, “Take 1 to 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed.” Inhale… Inhale!