Dispensing Misatakes

[Fleegle]

Perhaps a bit off-topic, but it's a long thread...anyone had problems with the 2800/5600 strengths of Fosavance?

[johnep]

My problem was with growth hormone, also had problems with Duraphat strengths.
johnep

[carnage_328]

just had an error occur on friday and has been eating away at me since..problem patient who recieves his Rx weekly and expects it to be ready as he enters. have had a few issues with his Rx and him (short temper) in the past...friday morning he walks in Rx not ready for collection very busy at this time..he shows his frustration shouting and screaming...i advise it will be ready within 5mins if you just calm down as there are other patients and customers. so in my haste to dispense his Rx i have given amitriptyline 25 instead of 50. he walks in on saturday to make me aware of this..he did not accept my proposal of replacing the 25 with the prescribed 50 and took the 25 away. he said he always has issues with this pharmacy and he doesnt care if he runs out taking 8 of the 25 to make his usual dose of 200mg at night and that he will write a letter about the service. im disappointed in myself for allowing someone like him to rush me into making a mistake and bit concerned what the repercussions may be. any thoughts?

[johnep]

Make a note in the diary and lay stress on the very high dosage illustrating his personality.
If he writes in, then the AM will have a go at you and the customer will be given vouchers.
johnep

[jessie]

Hi Carnage

sounds like you work for the same chain as I do! Was the Rx not double checked???? like us are there no staff to double check, as the only other member around is serving the public also or trying to eat their lunch at the same time!

I can sympathise with you, along with so many others probably on this site. Perhaps when the AM start receiving more and more errors they may see a pattern occuring............... Less staff, more targets, more hassle, constant phone ringing = MORE MISTAKES POSSIBLE.

[hibernia]

Perhaps when the AM start receiving more and more errors they may see a pattern occuring............... Less staff, more targets, more hassle, constant phone ringing = MORE MISTAKES POSSIBLE.

They may see the pattern but it doesn't mean they will do anything about it like employing more staff.
Call me a cynic but it is a lot cheaper for them to just make sure they have insurance cover to pay off the few that result in serious injury and a claim.

[johnep]

As did Ford when they looked at the cost of $5 safety for the petrol tank and reassoned that compensation would be cheaper.
johnep

[medical6969]

Double checks are great in theory. However, I find the mentanlity of the person doing the 1st check to be 'If there's any mistakes, the 2nd checker will pick it up'. So is there any way of having a set up, so that neither the pharmacist or the dispenser knows if they are doing the first check or the final check.
That way your more likley to pay attention if you think the final check is on your head.
Any thoughts?

[andrew paxton]

I have taken the opportunity to highlight a need to change our front desk system with my pharmacist/manager, to alleviate the strain on the person operating it ( and the waiting customers ), however, change was not embraced by all of my colleagues, without whom it couldn't work, so it's back to the old! Difficult time of year perhaps to make changes, as it's so busy, however, if , and possibly when, another member of my team, experience what I am feeling, the perhaps they might be more enthusiastic in trying something else and making it work instead of abandoning it after one morning!! I agree with all you say. My branch was part of a big multiple and was sold to a large independant a few years ago, and the difference is very noticeable. This company is all about cutting corners and saving money, even down to switching off heaters half an hour before we close as it has been determined that there is no significant drop in temperature during this time! CCTV cameras seem to watch our every move, and I have not been paid overtime for at least 2 years but am still expected to cover for absences etc, for time in leu...but I'm way off subject now and this probably belongs in a different thread!

I know this is an old thread, but, well done to you for realising that there was a problem with the system, but how could the other staff refuse to implement the changes when 1, it's safer and 2, the Pharmacist Manager says it must be done? Sounds like insubordination to me!

[M.Medina]

The key for me has been training the counter staff on reading my notes at the top of the script ALWAYS!

Notes like (because at first their excuse was that the coloured clips came off):
- offer ExRx (repeat prescription service)
- to copy (for blue scripts on supervised consumption)
- CD to record
- owing that expires (for owings on CDs)
- still to pay

Make THEM reading these their responsability too.

As a locum, and not to be blame again, you can ALSO

1. fotocopy every CD prescription that you dispense (including the not collected ones) and leave them for record checking for the Pharmacy Manager in their weekly/montly stock counts.

or

2. record every dispensation you make (even if it is not collected), with will have added a footnote when collected. Then, the Pharmacy Manager can check if collection data is written on their weekly/montly stock counts. (If you have a frequent supply this would mess your register numbers up)

Now, for prescriptions that are handed out when you are the responsible pharmacist but they were prepared any other day: I would say that the key is again telling the counter staff that they are responsible to make you aware of a CD supply, which is easy because at the end of the day, ONLY YOU will have the keys for the CD cupboard.

I hope it helps!