http://terryforshee.com D. Terry Forshee, Dph, PD, CDE Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:28:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-232 Marc Thomas Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:28:34 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-232 Frontline (PBS) did a great story on the meth problem. Oregon finally made Sudafed available by Rx only. The results were so successful an attempt was made to make it a Federal law. The pharmaceutical industry lobbied successfully to kill that idea. What an outrage! Where is this country's sense of ideals and morals? 30 yrs as an rph and glad to see all this rumbling. Unions(yes)and go viral on the DEA. Frontline (PBS) did a great story on the meth problem. Oregon finally made Sudafed available by Rx only. The results were so successful an attempt was made to make it a Federal law. The pharmaceutical industry lobbied successfully to kill that idea. What an outrage! Where is this country’s sense of ideals and morals? 30 yrs as an rph and glad to see all this rumbling. Unions(yes)and go viral on the DEA.

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-231 kerry w Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:50:27 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-231 walgreens in chicago has one...i wonder how it's working for them? anyone know a member? walgreens in chicago has one…i wonder how it’s working for them? anyone know a member?

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-230 Rph Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:49:55 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-230 Ideally when they change there would be some notice given to the patient by the pharmacy staff, but if not Many pharmacies include the tablet imprint code (letters and/or numbers marked on pill) on the labeling to provide confirmation info, do not know if WAG does this or not. If not there are online pill identification resources available, one of the better ones IMO is a www.drugs.com, or another option would be to contact the pharmacy where the Rx was obtained and ask a member of the staff. You should never just assume anything about your healthcare, weather at the pharmacy, clinic or hospital, if you have a question, concern, or misunderstanding you should always feel able to bring it up, patients must start to understand and accept that they are the main variable responsible for their health, and better health and quality of life is dependent on a individual committing the necessary time, effort, and financial resource. Ideally when they change there would be some notice given to the patient by the pharmacy staff, but if not Many pharmacies include the tablet imprint code (letters and/or numbers marked on pill) on the labeling to provide confirmation info, do not know if WAG does this or not. If not there are online pill identification resources available, one of the better ones IMO is a http://www.drugs.com, or another option would be to contact the pharmacy where the Rx was obtained and ask a member of the staff. You should never just assume anything about your healthcare, weather at the pharmacy, clinic or hospital, if you have a question, concern, or misunderstanding you should always feel able to bring it up, patients must start to understand and accept that they are the main variable responsible for their health, and better health and quality of life is dependent on a individual committing the necessary time, effort, and financial resource.

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-229 Claude Nougat Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:42:45 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-229 I live in Europe (Italy) where the system is totally different and even more bureaucratized, though as far as I know we don't have this kind of problem but believe me, we have other kinds! I find this situation in the USA fascinating and I'm not surprised your blog post has had such a huge response, it does sound like a real problem...Again, I suspect it's not the amount of bureaucracy (more or less of it) that is going to provide a solution. It sounds like what's needed is a total overhaul of the system, the DEA's role and all related rules included . It probably needs to be re-thought...certainly a tall order! I live in Europe (Italy) where the system is totally different and even more bureaucratized, though as far as I know we don’t have this kind of problem but believe me, we have other kinds! I find this situation in the USA fascinating and I’m not surprised your blog post has had such a huge response, it does sound like a real problem…Again, I suspect it’s not the amount of bureaucracy (more or less of it) that is going to provide a solution. It sounds like what’s needed is a total overhaul of the system, the DEA’s role and all related rules included . It probably needs to be re-thought…certainly a tall order!

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-227 Gerardo Suarez Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:27:10 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-227 As a son, granchild, cousin and friend of pharmacists, it is with great interest that I read this article. The DEA is barking at the wrong tree! Go fetch the doctors that write the questionable prescriptions, with transparency and courage. Go hunt them; no paperwork; no new rules; just hunt mean! As a son, granchild, cousin and friend of pharmacists, it is with great interest that I read this article. The DEA is barking at the wrong tree! Go fetch the doctors that write the questionable prescriptions, with transparency and courage. Go hunt them; no paperwork; no new rules; just hunt mean!

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-226 ken Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:34:28 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-226 A pharmacist union needs to be formed for those in retail. I have been saying that for years A pharmacist union needs to be formed for those in retail. I have been saying that for years

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-223 Retail pharmacist Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:43:16 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-223 I fully agree!!! How is it a pharmacist will lose their license if we make poor decisions immediately? While doctors get to appeal and practice for at least 2 more years and write thousands of bad scripts? Hypocracy! Or they get their license suspended for a year and they are back with new DEA numbers and prescribing suboxone on top of it. They caused the problem with writing excessive narcotics now they turn around and treat you for the condition. It almost feels like a monopoly. I fully agree!!! How is it a pharmacist will lose their license if we make poor decisions immediately? While doctors get to appeal and practice for at least 2 more years and write thousands of bad scripts? Hypocracy! Or they get their license suspended for a year and they are back with new DEA numbers and prescribing suboxone on top of it. They caused the problem with writing excessive narcotics now they turn around and treat you for the condition. It almost feels like a monopoly.

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-222 Apothecarrie1 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:00:50 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-222 I must be in the same " neck of the woods as you", Kerry. My husband, who is a detective for Metro Narcotics has always given me the wisest advice. He says "remember, if you must stand in front of a judge, or jury facing criminal charges for injuring, or killing someone, "I did not have enough staff" will never protect you. Not to mention meeting my quotas of MTM's, flu shots, wellness calls, new to therapy calls, blood pressure checks, club memberships, flavorings, and 90 day rx's with an ever shrinking staff, and oh, yeah, "how have YOU been developing meaningful relationships with you patients and community?". In the face of these increasing pressures, the priorities WE set every day when we put on the white coat are the only ones that can protect our licenses--or destroy them. Choose wisely my friends. I must be in the same ” neck of the woods as you”, Kerry. My husband, who is a detective for Metro Narcotics has always given me the wisest advice. He says “remember, if you must stand in front of a judge, or jury facing criminal charges for injuring, or killing someone, “I did not have enough staff” will never protect you. Not to mention meeting my quotas of MTM’s, flu shots, wellness calls, new to therapy calls, blood pressure checks, club memberships, flavorings, and 90 day rx’s with an ever shrinking staff, and oh, yeah, “how have YOU been developing meaningful relationships with you patients and community?”. In the face of these increasing pressures, the priorities WE set every day when we put on the white coat are the only ones that can protect our licenses–or destroy them. Choose wisely my friends.

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-221 Christine Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:19:28 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-221 I think the problem actually started with the push 10 years ago to treat pain like any other disease. In pain? Get a pain med. Prescribers were being reprimanded for NOT prescribing narcotic painkillers. So what happened? Everyone and their brother started writing for painkillers. Pain Treatment specialists started popping up everywhere and an epidemic was born. I'm in NY and I know a doctor that had the potential to lose her license because she refused to write for narcotics (because she felt they were not warranted) Then, because the patient complained to the State Board, she was reprimanded. For NOT writing narcotics! Insane. The government created this mess and now we pharmacists have to clean it up. I think the problem actually started with the push 10 years ago to treat pain like any other disease. In pain? Get a pain med. Prescribers were being reprimanded for NOT prescribing narcotic painkillers. So what happened? Everyone and their brother started writing for painkillers. Pain Treatment specialists started popping up everywhere and an epidemic was born. I’m in NY and I know a doctor that had the potential to lose her license because she refused to write for narcotics (because she felt they were not warranted) Then, because the patient complained to the State Board, she was reprimanded. For NOT writing narcotics! Insane. The government created this mess and now we pharmacists have to clean it up.

]]> http://terryforshee.com/2013/06/letter-to-the-editor-of-usa-today/#comment-220 Mark Corrales, DPh Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:13:20 +0000 http://terryforshee.com/?p=54#comment-220 Just some food for thought....in the entire history of the DEA, has there been ANY decrease in the illicit use of drugs in America. It appears to me we experienced much less illicit drug use prior to their existence. Secondly, is there any evidence the DEA has made the drug supply in America safer ? I think not. In fact it appears to make the continued marketing of dangerous medications possible. I tend to agree with Ron Paul in that the DEA should be abolished and the relationship between pharmacist, patient and physician retorted to its natural order. The current trend is to attack the people "enabling" illegal activity rather than the actual perpetrators. Not just in our industry! When the government fears the people there is liberty ....when the people fear the government there is tyranny.....Thomas Jefferson. Just some food for thought….in the entire history of the DEA, has there been ANY decrease in the illicit use of drugs in America. It appears to me we experienced much less illicit drug use prior to their existence. Secondly, is there any evidence the DEA has made the drug supply in America safer ? I think not. In fact it appears to make the continued marketing of dangerous medications possible. I tend to agree with Ron Paul in that the DEA should be abolished and the relationship between pharmacist, patient and physician retorted to its natural order. The current trend is to attack the people “enabling” illegal activity rather than the actual perpetrators. Not just in our industry! When the government fears the people there is liberty ….when the people fear the government there is tyranny…..Thomas Jefferson.

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