Quality of Dispensing Assistants

[DavidS]

Somewhere there are statistics which show pharmacists make more errors than techs. Put down to constant interruptions while dispensing. i was reprimanded at a very busy BTC for stopping to answer the phone. Rule is finish what you are doing, they will always call again.
johnep

Its not about the errors tho, its about the responsiility for the errors. Still, those stats are interesting.

I got my wrist slapped once for ignoring a customer while finishing a script by BTC, so that proves something

[jaymags]

Somewhere there are statistics which show pharmacists make more errors than techs. Put down to constant interruptions while dispensing. i was reprimanded at a very busy BTC for stopping to answer the phone. Rule is finish what you are doing, they will always call again.
johnep

Thanks for that, perhaps I should mention that to my boss. The two of us dispensers that do tray meds often feel like putting DND (do not disturb) on our backs when doing tray meds. Splitting off from doing them can be a nightmare. Interruptions are not always avoidable especially when there is a staff shortage.

[Alexa]

I'd have to agree with most of the point that dispensing errors are VERY important when the pharmacist checks it. However what really set me straight into not making any mistakes was when I worked with a pharmacist who seems to care less about checking the items. Normally we'd only have one pharmacist on duty who checked everything in and out, yet when he left on holiday for a week (with a day notice) and left me in charge it seemed to shake me to the core the importance of medicine and dispensing errors. I noticed that after the locum "checked" the item i made a mistake on the label and he didn't pick it up, and when i pointed it out he didn't seem that distressed. Which really confused me, but it made me think, instead of typing the incorrect strengh I'd picked out the wrong strengh medication it could'ave been fatal. So I understand partially why it's so imporant for pharmacists to check everything correctly and patiently.

[cuppatea]

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me solve an issue I have......I am a qualified dispensing tec and work part time. My problem started when I went into work on a day I don't usually work, only to find one of the counter staff labelling and dispensing items, she informed me that she always does the dispensing when Im not in !!. (With the pharmacist checking). Is this allowed ???? and if so, why should us qualified dispenser's have to pay to be on technician register, (which is to be compulsory from the 1st July 2011).
I have expressed my concerns to the pharmacist and refused to sign off any of there dispensing.
I look forward to hearing what others think about this.

[DavidS]

only to find one of the counter staff labelling and dispensing items, she informed me that she always does the dispensing when Im not in !!. (With the pharmacist checking).

My understanding is that provided she is on a dispensing course, that's OK.

Welcome to the forum, btw. No milk, no sugar, Ta.

[cuppatea]

Hi David
No she is not on a dispensing course and has been completing the counter course for months.

[mandy]

Jaymags, don't beat yourself up over it "ASSISTANT" is there for a meaning, we don't do the finale checks and as you say we pick the items and label them, while the pharmacist is probably on his/her mobile going on about his/her home life or its a locum booking his/her next job.

I'm not even qualified yet but i know what is expected of a dispensing assistant, and the expectation is to much , If i was on £29 a hour i would pay attention to detail

[mandy]

cuppatea, I was doing the very same as your counter assistant as what I'm doing now the only difference is that because I'm doing the dispensing course the pharmacist gives me more jobs to do but with the same pay as the counter assistants

[johnep]

Fact of life that at present 'anyone' can dispense. I have worked in pharmacies where the counter assistant and I are alone and she has helped out at busy times. In the USA on Dispensing Errors on utube, great play made that not the pharmacist actually dispensing but some school leaver.

What we have in community is Quality Control whereas the rest of industry is on Quality Assurance.
johnep

[cuppatea]

Hi Mandy, the counter assistant I work with is not even doing the dispensing course, and doesn't want to do it, my issue is that us dispenser's will have to pay to be on a register, which is compulsory from july 2011, the register at the moment is voluntary, but they still have to pay a yearly fee. What I would like to know is why is it ok for anyone not doing the dispensing course to dispense!!!!, makes me think why do we bother with the courses. I'm thinking of a change in career, as the pressure being put on us dispensers is getting to much, while, like you said the pharmacist is on their mobile,if we were born with 3 heads and 8 pairs of arms then there wouldn't be a problem with dealing with everything.
Anyway not to put a downer on dispensing ...lol good luck in your course.
Cuppatea. :0)