ok so lets define the problem first:
MURs are a great service for patients but the generous reimburment for an MUR (£27) leads to Undue pressure from store managers/area managers/superintendent pharmacists on store pharmacists (Locum or manager), to perform X number of MURs in a specific amount of time (e.g. 8 per week for managers or 2 per day for locums) to make up the maximum 400 per annum, this is done disregarding whether there is a need for an MUR or not. This is especially irritating when the person demanding is a non-pharmacist store manager, who doesnt know an iota about Pharmacuetical issues. Unfortunately, alot of pharmacists are succumed to fulfil these demands despite such practice being unethical and unprofessional.
Solution:
-Make the normal MUR GP/prescriber initiated
-The system would work so that either the GP sees a need for an MUR for a patient or the patient can request an MUR
-Patient can know of the service through advertising.
-This would result in issuing of an MUR prescription, the patient then has the choice to go to any pharmacy they want to get the appropriate information,
-The patient has the choice to go to whatever pharmacy they want, so they might be more likely to go to the pharmacy they most trust, this would provide incentive for better customer service for patients, so pharmacy contractors concentrate on this, e.g. providing extra staff, staff training
-some sort of checking method to ensure GPs are issuing these Rxs.
-Referal from a GP means bettering the perception of the pharmacists infront of the patient as GP normally refer to Hospital or specialists
-the GP would be more willing to accept the feedback.
-store managers would have no way to push pharmacists to do x MURs per week.
-the pharmacy still retains the right to do intervention initiated MUR, which can only be judged by the pharmacist.
-FINALLY, include a mini information Rx, where the pharmacy gets a small fee for counselling patients on certain medicines. e.g. use of inhaler etc...
-the PCT should take this into account and maybe reflect this in an increase in the dispensing fee.
NOW People, comments, criticisms, reflections, ideas, thought etc...what do YOU think???
MURs are a great service for patients but the generous reimburment for an MUR (£27) leads to Undue pressure from store managers/area managers/superintendent pharmacists on store pharmacists (Locum or manager), to perform X number of MURs in a specific amount of time (e.g. 8 per week for managers or 2 per day for locums) to make up the maximum 400 per annum, this is done disregarding whether there is a need for an MUR or not. This is especially irritating when the person demanding is a non-pharmacist store manager, who doesnt know an iota about Pharmacuetical issues. Unfortunately, alot of pharmacists are succumed to fulfil these demands despite such practice being unethical and unprofessional.
Solution:
-Make the normal MUR GP/prescriber initiated
-The system would work so that either the GP sees a need for an MUR for a patient or the patient can request an MUR
-Patient can know of the service through advertising.
-This would result in issuing of an MUR prescription, the patient then has the choice to go to any pharmacy they want to get the appropriate information,
-The patient has the choice to go to whatever pharmacy they want, so they might be more likely to go to the pharmacy they most trust, this would provide incentive for better customer service for patients, so pharmacy contractors concentrate on this, e.g. providing extra staff, staff training
-some sort of checking method to ensure GPs are issuing these Rxs.
-Referal from a GP means bettering the perception of the pharmacists infront of the patient as GP normally refer to Hospital or specialists
-the GP would be more willing to accept the feedback.
-store managers would have no way to push pharmacists to do x MURs per week.
-the pharmacy still retains the right to do intervention initiated MUR, which can only be judged by the pharmacist.
-FINALLY, include a mini information Rx, where the pharmacy gets a small fee for counselling patients on certain medicines. e.g. use of inhaler etc...
-the PCT should take this into account and maybe reflect this in an increase in the dispensing fee.
NOW People, comments, criticisms, reflections, ideas, thought etc...what do YOU think???
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