mur extra payment

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by paul2008

I don't think the people who control the money care whether it is a good MUR an average MUR or just a MUR... In this age of targets and numbers, I don't see being able to do a "really good MUR" as being a particular selling point, especially for an occasional locum. Any how if your MUR is "really good" are you trying to say its better that one done by any other MUR trained pharmacist? If so by what standard? Is it measurably good or better. Are you going to be there for follow up in a few months or years time?

I don't know the answers. I'll be the first to admit I have a tendency to tick boxes but really you need evidence that you can deliver before making such demands.

In addition don't forget the bussiness costs and overheads of the contractor. Even if you do the best MUR in the world you can't do it from your sitting room

paul

I'd reply to this one but have met my posting target for this week.

[paul2008]

Originally Posted by Pharmanaut

I'd reply to this one but have met my posting target for this week.

Is there a punishment for not meeting or exceeding target postings? I have completely ignored this.

Admin, Please don't kick me off or take away my smilies

[admin]

Originally Posted by paul2008

Is there a punishment for not meeting or exceeding target postings? I have completely ignored this.

Admin, Please don't kick me off or take away my smilies

No worries on that front. Why not have an avatar as well? Have a look at this lot, or choose your own and send it to me.....

Avatars

[Web Ferret]

Originally Posted by Titch

I justify a higher hourly rate by being accredited to deliver all the extra services e.g. EHC PGD, minor ailments, methadone supervision, MURs.
.

I agree. I locum at £25 but have all the relevant CPD qualifications. I had to do these in my own time and at my own expense.

If someone has paid for you to do the MUR course then its difficult for you to charge extra - If it cost you to do the course that should be reflected in what you charge or an extra payment.

[SolomonQ]

recently saw a managers job advertised in the pj, said £5 bonus per MUR so thats £2,000 bonus if ones reached the max allowed, I guess the employers started with the final figure and jus decided to present it as per MUR.

from these activities (max 400 MURs per year), the pharmacy thus makes a profit of £8,800 per year without really investing anything. so its not like say atenolol where they have to spend 20p per pack before they get reimbursed 50p from the PPA.

the pharmacy has overheads staff costs etc.. but that is their problem, end of the day pharmacists as their daily work would do the same if not more dispensing and counselling etc... but MURs etc... are extra work which should be adequately compensated for by the contractor.

[Tony Schofield]

Don't worry Solomon (I thought Solomon was supposed to be wise?), when the "responsible pharmacist" becomes reality you may be paid as an ACT for dispensing and get a percentage of the advanced and enhanced services you actually perform. Is that what you want?

I suspect not!

I think it a real laugh when pharmacists talk about being accredited to do various functions such as EHC, minor ailments, supervised methadone and now MURs as if any of it is rocket science. The qualification now requires a masters degree, do you expect employers to pay more for a young pharmacist with a master's degree than they do for an established pharmacist who has a bachelor's degree?

Of course not.

The accreditations are paper exercises for commissioners of services. Tick box exercises. No pharmacist , who keeps up to date, should need significant effort to acquire these accreditations so stop bleating about them as if they are PhD level!

Some contractors actually appreciate that which is done for them by their pharmacists. They remunerate them well and incentivise them. However greed is a huge turn off. A pharmacist working for me purely for the money wouldn't last long. I pay at the top end of the salaries quoted on this site and bonuses if appropriate.

I wouldn't expect a locum to do a MUR. Unless they were long term. I do expect my pharmacists to do MURs and no pharmacy I am involved in does less than 10,000 prescriptions per month. They have significant back up staff trained to the highest levels we can train them and pharmacists are expected to delegate to find time to perform MURs etc.

One final point. MURs are medication USE reviews, not medication reviews. They do NOT require huge clinical input as you imply.

[Farnsfield]

As an independent proprietor, I have an arrangement with one of my regular locums to split the MUR fee 50/50. I offered the same to another one who said she considered it part of her job and wouldn't take anything. Personally, I do think some kind of extra remuneration is warranted but I'm not sure it should be as much as 50% - as well as providing the premises I've also built up the relationships with patients which encourage them to accept the offer of MUR

[admin]

Originally Posted by Farnsfield

As an independent proprietor, I have an arrangement with one of my regular locums to split the MUR fee 50/50. I offered the same to another one who said she considered it part of her job and wouldn't take anything. Personally, I do think some kind of extra remuneration is warranted but I'm not sure it should be as much as 50% - as well as providing the premises I've also built up the relationships with patients which encourage them to accept the offer of MUR

I personally would not dream of trying to charge extra for doing MUR's.

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by admin

I personally would not dream of trying to charge extra for doing MUR's.

If they occurred in 'business hours' neither would I.
However, as soon as they impinge upon unpaid hours then I would.
There is enough after hours stuff as it is. The shutters go down but these days you have to sort stuff out so that you start the next day in a known state, takes another half hour before hitting the road - that's unpaid as it is. Mad I know, but only way to keep some sanity in the dispensary these days.

[johnep]

Agreed, yesterday I got in half hour early in an attempt to tidy up some of the residue of previous mad day. In the past when had key would go back after tea to count scripts etc. all unpaid of course. Rule is if you opt to do extra work, unpaid. If asked to do extra work, then paid. Trouble is that employers tend to try to simultaneously increase work load and cut hours.
They call it productivity.
johnep