I got a phone call tonight.. young RPH.. having worked for a certain chain/PBM.. for some 15 years.. since right after high school. This RPH was a “successful” PIC in this chain’s world. One Friday night, he was presented with a new C-II Rx from a regular customer.. who is disabled .. on SS/Medicare disability and part D. The “rub” came because even though the Rx was on time.. the RPH could not get it through the PBM’s system. This RPH made use his/her “professional discretion”… knowing that this particular pt would be thrown into substantial pain and withdrawal if the pt could not get the needed medication before Monday. So the RPH decided to provide the pt with enough medication to last until things could be straightened out on Monday.. made notes on the Rx and put it aside to handle on Monday. Monday comes.. the prescription is processed and adjudicated and the pt is provided the balance of the medication on the Rx. The 72 hr Federal law was met for partial filling, the pt was not thrown into withdrawal… all the “i” were dotted, all the “t” were crossed and the pt was taken care of. Two thumbs up for a job well done ?
NOT EXACTLY… a couple of days later… the RPH’s DM shows up, a BOP inspector and Loss Prevention… calls the RPH to the store’s office.. Apparently someone who works in the Rx dept.. had seen the RPH’s notes on the C-II Rx and took exception with how things were handled and made some calls… trying to stir things up..
The RPH is requested to put in writing what had transpired.. which was done.. and seemingly everyone was happy with the explanation of the “incident”… really a non-issue.
The next day, this RPH gets a call from the DM and is informed that the company could not have someone employed that had a MAJOR VIOLATION of company’s policy and procedures.. which is apparently noted as such in the RPH’s employment records.
This RPH was employed in a major metropolitan area and finding another job in this market.. proved to be impossible. Two months out of work and the closest job this RPh could find was abt 500 miles from home. This RPH is now separated from spouse and kids.. getting to drive 500 miles each way …every other weekend to see the RPH’s family..
This RPH told me that the marriage went thru a pretty pretty rocky and the both sets of parents can’t seem to understand that people get fired for doing the right thing.. in the chain industry… and getting fired for a MAJOR VIOLATION of the company’s policies and procedures.. without doing something really bad… or illegal…
BTW… this RPh’s DM was let go a couple of weeks later..
Filed under: General Problems
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