PHARMACIST STEVE

When most of our practice acts were written the Pharmacist in Charge and the owner/permit holder were typically one and the same. Today the vast majority of pharmacies are owned by corporations. Also most of the Rx dept layouts, policy and procedures, staffing levels and numerous other things that can and does affect med errors and patient safety.. are all developed and dictated by the corporation… the question must be asked?… why do we have a PIC at the store level.. when all the variable are established and controlled by the corporation?
The PIC is basically in charge of nothing and accepting responsibility – to the BOP – for the legal operation of the Rx dept.
Should all the practice acts be changed to allow for a corporate PIC… when there is a corporate permit holder of multiple stores. Of course the PIC would have to be registered in the state(s) that he/she oversees where stores are operated. The BOP’s would have one person to look at for the Rx depts in a particular state that are permitted to a corporation. The RPH’s working in the store.. are just staff RPh’s… they could have some administrative obligations …but nothing that had to do with the legal operation of the pharmacy… other than the obligation as a licensed pharmacist.
Why should the independent pharmacist who is PIC & permit holder experience much harsher consequences than a pharmacy operated by a corporate permit holder.
Recently, the DEA pulled the DEA registration of two CVS stores in Florida… publically the FL BOP DID NOTHING … other than not being able to dispense controlled substances… apparently.. it was business as usual for these two stores… I wonder what would have been done by the DEA and the BOP if those two stores had been independent pharmacies? I know where my money would have been on such a bet….

Filed under: General dumb-ass problems