Health information

QUESTION: My old pharmacist used to take a lot of time with me to explain
just how a medication should be used, and provided me with all the cautions I
ever wanted
However, now that I am living in a larger city, my new
pharmacist doesn’t seem so concerned, and just stays in the back where I can’t
talk with him
Isn’t it one of the responsibilities of the pharmacist to
provide you with this information that is needed to take the medicine
correctly?

ANSWER: I certainly agree with you that precise information about your
prescription medication is absolutely essential, so that you will take the
medicine correctly and obtain the greatest benefit from its actions.
Personally, I believe that all members of your personal “health team,”
including your physician, the office nurse, physician assistant and the
pharmacist share in that responsibility
To obtain an authoritative response
to your question about pharmacists I consulted with Dr
John A
Cans,
Executive Vice President of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and here
is his reply:
“In any profession or occupation, you will find those who hold personal
service to the consumer or patient as highly important, and those who view it
as less so
Pharmacists are no different
However, all pharmacists have the
knowledge and training needed to provide invaluable medication advice, and the
vast majority are eager to do so
If the pharmacist in the pharmacy you are
patronizing is physically inaccessible or unwilling to discuss your medication
with you, you have two recourses: first, ask to talk to the pharmacist, and
then ask the questions you need the answers to you have the right to the
information
Second, if you don’t get the answer you are entitled to, and the
pharmacist seems reluctant to discuss your medication questions with you, then
find another pharmacist who will work with you
In larger cities, like the
one you are living in, it is easy to find another conveniently located
pharmacy where the pharmacists are eager to fill your information needs”.
I can not help but wonder how many other readers have had similar
problems with receiving service that meets with their expectations from their
pharmacists
I would be interested in your letters that might tell of your
worst and (to be fair) your best experiences with your pharmacists
I will
be sure to report the results back to all of you.
Thank you Dr
Gans for supporting my frequently stated position that in
health care as with all else, if you are not receiving the attention that you
desire and have the right to expect, you can show your displeasure by voting
with your feet.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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