I got a notice today that my state pharmacy association’s annual convention is coming up and a link to the website where the description of the presentations of the two day meeting.
I found this one very interesting.. from several points.. Keep in mind.. this is suppose to be ONLY A 30 minute presentation… and the Q&A period is how long ?
Controlled Substances and the Corresponding Responsibility of the Pharmacist
Prescription drug abuse has been rising to an epidemic level, causing a public health concern. Pharmacists have a distinct responsibility in helping combat this epidemic. Professional judgment along with knowledge of state and federal laws as well as employer policies is key to managing the potential of abuse. Pharmacists must be aware of the legal implications if inappropriate dispensing occurs.
Objectives for Pharmacist:
Describe recent legislation Federal and State) involving controlled substance prescribing and dispensing guidelines.
- Discuss the pharmacist’s role in regards to utilizing professional judgment and employer policies concerning controlled substance usage.
Objectives for Pharmacy Technician:
- Describe recent legislation (Federal and State) involving controlled substance prescribing and dispensing guidelines.
- Discuss the pharmacy technician’s role in regards to utilizing professional judgment and employer policies concerning controlled substance usage.
This presentation is being put on a “Legacy Pharmacist” with that infamous chain/PBM, and is on the BOP for a FOURTH – four year term.
Here is what I find interesting…
Professional judgment along with knowledge of state and federal laws as well as employer policies is key to managing the potential of abuse
Is it just me.. or does is sound like a corporation can dictate by its policies and procedures how a license Pharmacist is to practice pharmacy? What is the use of “professional judgement” if corporate protocol dictates what a Pharmacist does ? I thought that a corporation could only be licensed to OPERATE A PHARMACY… when there was a RPH who had agreed to be PIC.
Also
- Discuss the pharmacy technician’s role in regards to utilizing professional judgment and employer policies concerning controlled substance usage.
So now, technicians can be involved with “professional judgement” in the Rx dept ?.. In my state, anyone can be hired as a technician … officially labeled as a “technician in training” but.. has one year to pass one of two approved written tests to become “certified”.. if they fail to pass one of these two tests within that one year period… they are no longer employable in a pharmacy. Also a Rph can be responsible for the actions of up to SIX techs at one time… and not the first one has to be certified !
BTW… this state board of pharmacy has multiple members in their 3rd-4th – four year term and at least one working on a FIFTH term.. and all but ONE of the RPH’s on this BOP are corporate employees… maybe that is why it would appear that the interpretation of the practice act is leaning toward a corporation being able to dictate the practice of pharmacy.
This is also the same BOP that under investigation in violating the state’s open meeting rule to consider granting WAGS an exception to the practice act to covert stores to their “Pharmacists out front” format.. while a WAGS exec was President of the BOP …
Filed under: General Problems
There’s nothing in the law that takes employer policies into account. These guys are just trying to say it’s a factor because they want to avoid being excluded from C2 ordering etc
No the corporate employers want there noses in the pharmacy so they can manipulate and micromanage how the pharmacy is run to make more profit for the store overall and as far as controls are concerned they want to dictate and ration chronic pain meds ie Wags good fill policy which has the AM A upset. Corporate. Wants to.rewrite the.pharmacy practice.acts so no longer will a pharmacist be required
In case you haven’t noticed..the law is not in fact THE LAW.. it is the interpretation of the law by the bureaucrats is what is enforced. For example, Obamacare law is abt 2200 pages.. and it is estimated that the resulting regulations will entail abt 170,000 pages.
I welcome input from techs also. They see profiles first and on refills can determine rts and let RPh know. No one from corporate has ever told me to not fill a Rx. It is my judgement alone.
I agree with you completely…but I always welcome input from the techs I have worked with..but.. the final decision is always MINE… but … this presentation is being presented by a Pharmacist who has been licensed for some 30 yrs…who has been on the state BOP and now in FOURTH – FOUR YEAR TERM.. so should be quite aware of the limitations of techs under the practice act.. unless this BOP is leaning toward interpreting the practice act that better serves the corporations that six out of seven BOP members work for.
Technicians, even Certified ones, are not professionals, thus not allowed to use “professional judgement.” We may act in a professional manner, but by the strict letter of the law, we are not. That’s why we cant counsel or advise patients about their meds.