r/pharmacy

I have to admit that I have certificates. Some are more valuable than others. Some, I have never used, even to reference in a job interview. I saw in another forum about terrible, predatory programs. Anything in particular come to mind?

I did three seasons of those sketchy online prior authorization contracts where they suddenly, unexpectedly cut you out. One woman in our class had just completed her residency in managed care!? Never got a chance to talk to her but I assume that was at least one year of her life at half-pay doing projects, etc. And she was training for the same sh****y job we all were. That was probably the worst choice I have ever seen.

EDIT: this post took a different turn but I can dig it. I meant like those ADA, APhA certificates. I see asks like, 'should i complete this $600 prior authorization certificate to get out of retail?' and i want to scream 'just apply to the jobs themselves!'

Anybody have a suggestion? Sometimes you old head pharmacists know these things. Thanks.

writing condolence cards is never easy, but it's really fucking hard when it's for a kid.

For those currently operating as a PIC at a FSED what are some of the things you'd advice me on before I decide to sign up as a PIC at a FSED? I know I need to reread the state law pertaining to the license and DEA controlled substance stuff a few times but what else?? The FSED will be operating 24/7, and an assigned RPh will be going to the FSED weekly which is typically not me but I am asked to be the PIC overseeing it, so I'll be going over it basically to oversee that RPh and a tech as well.

Background: 10+ yr experience inpatient with residency training, BCPS, soon MBA, 3+ yr as a manager inpatient more on the clinical/quality side of things, which is my current role but I am not the PIC of anything.

Hi, I recently got a job at a chemist warehouse but I have heard many opinions on whether or not the work environment is bad.
Yesterday was my first day going around the city and handing out my CV. The second pharmacist I walked into they interviewed me on the spot and said they would consider giving me a job. Today I went to Chemist warehouse and they also interviewed me right there, then at the end they offered me a job.

I don't know too much about the specifics as I haven't been emailed yet, however just wondering if I should keep trying other pharmacies that are better?

I am in Australia and CBD area, so there are plenty of different pharmacies. I would definitely prefer one with more clinical work like Webster packaging instead of retail/front counter, but I will take anything as I don't have any experience working in pharmacy, only cafes.

Thanks so much!

I work at a hospital and we have a patient coming for infusions of an expensive specialty medication (think $20,000 or more per infusion) every two months. He receives his medication via "white bag". Medication is shipped to our hospital from an outside pharmacy and infused at the hospital. He's been getting it this way for years.

In January, the hospital accidentally used its own supply. The refill order was never placed with the outside pharmacy. This came up when the insurance denied our reimbursement of the medication.

I was asked if we could reach out to the outside pharmacy and seek sort of a replacement dose, so to speak, since the hospital will not be reimbursed through the insurance. The pharmacist there accused me of trying to commit fraud, which I thought was ridiculous.

Thoughts?

With less than 2 years of experience, and I work a lot of solo coverage, so this situation has honestly been weighing on me a bit. I feel pretty dumb for not catching it immediately, but this is the first time I’ve run into something like this and I’m trying to learn from it.

One of my technicians received a call from a prescriber’s office stating that their e-prescribing system was down. My technician told them to send a facsimile transmission of the prescription over to us.

We later received a facsimile transmission of a prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance (Vyvanse). It had a prescriber signature and initially looked valid, so it was verified in the system. Before any actual filling/processing started, I realized facsimile transmissions for Schedule II prescriptions generally aren’t valid in outpatient retail unless specific exceptions apply (LTC, hospice, etc.). I stopped the process before anything was filled or dispensed.

My questions: If a Schedule II prescription is verified but stopped before filling even begins, is that considered any type of violation? Is this typically treated as a near-miss / workflow interception since no medication was prepared or dispensed?

And a related question: If this had been inadvertently filled and dispensed to the patient before the issue was caught, what would the consequences usually look like? For the pharmacist involved? And how serious is a one-time incident like this versus a repeated pattern? Just trying to understand where the regulatory line is in real-world practice between verification, filling, and actual dispensing, and what the risk level looks like if something slips through. Appreciate any insight from people who’ve dealt with similar situations.

Hey everyone! my shoes have been starting to cause me some discomfort at work lately. I do 10 hr shifts at a central fill facility and there's no dress code for shoes, im looking at either hoka or brooks. I'd like them to last at least a year and I'm fine paying up to $200, I'm just a bit overwhelmed with all of the options tbh. Does anyone have any long term reviews for either brand¿ or other recommendations? I had a meniscus tear a decade ago and im trying really hard to not wreck my knee 🫠

My pharmacy keeps having AI call to ask about our adderall stock. Personally I hang up every time because I can’t verify where the information is going to and don’t trust it but I’ve seen some other pharmacists be okay with it. What’s the general public feeling about it?

Just wanted to shout out to all the pharmacists out there (especially the ICU pharmacists) who have saved my ass over the last 10 years. I work 24 hr shifts in an ICU and no joke I’ve ordered some stupid shit at 2am. Pharmacy will message me asking wtf when it totally isn’t right haha. Anyways, without you peeps I prob wouldn’t be around. Hope this makes your day a little brighter. Thanks again.

R

I applied to Costco. I’m starting to wonder how their hiring process works. Do they actually review and hire people regularly, or are some applications mainly collected for future openings or data purposes? Sometimes it honestly feels discouraging, almost like scam job postings, because you apply and never hear anything back.

Can anyone who has made the jump from traditional retail to hospital outpatient give me an idea of what the transition might look like? I'm assuming it isn't huge, and kind of got that sense from the older posts here, but they were all like 2 years old and we know pharmacy can change fast! I'm guessing its basically just like going from one retail chain to another, just without the constant pressure to leave your store to be an RXM in a different one becasue they are desperate to use your license for their benefit (sadly fell for that one and they REALLY do not want to let me go back the other way.) I'm really hoping for better RPh staffing specifically, but not banking on it, and also a lower overall stress level (by virtue of hopefully better staffing levels and hopefully slightly easier access to providers when I'm literally their colleague downstairs or next door.) I'm pretty maxed out with what I can handle right now.

If I do ever decide to switch up and try for inpatient (not super likely, but never say never!) does working outpatient for that heath system help me, or will they still likely pass me over becasue it's still basically retail?

​

Obviously we can't run our own pharmacy. We would have to partner with a pharmacist and with the average wage few of us would have the funds to start one solo.

I've asked chatgpt about this.

Recommendations include:

1. Insurance troubleshooting, which would include prior authorization help

2. Workflow help

3. Technician training

It says independent pharmacies have a harder time training their technicians and pharmacist may not be so good at operations

About workflow help that would be creating the sop documentation. Or even simulation software because I have some knowledge of computer programming.

There are already a lot of pharmacy tech schools that train for the certification test but there aren't any that I'm aware of that strictly focus on training for the day to day tasks of a tech, things such as insurance resolution.

Has anyone tried to start a business around these things? Any suggestions for other businesses?

Is it primarily positions inside inpatient pharmacies that are like that? Are there any specializations that often do 7 on 7 off day shift?

Why aren’t more PharmD professionals in executive, corporate, or C-suite roles across the pharmaceutical industry?

Pharmacists bring a deep understanding of clinical medicine, patient outcomes, healthcare systems, reimbursement, formulary strategy, safety, and increasingly areas like market access, HEOR, medical affairs, and commercialization. On paper, that seems like a strong foundation for leadership.

Yet when you look at many senior leadership teams across companies like Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, or Johnson & Johnson, you often see MDs, MBAs, PhDs, finance professionals, or commercial leaders... but fewer PharmDs at the very top.

Why do you think that is?

Is it:
• Not enough PharmDs taking risks outside traditional pharmacy roles?
• Corporate bias toward other backgrounds?
• Or simply a pipeline issue, where PharmDs are only now entering these spaces in larger numbers?

For those already in pharma leadership, I’d genuinely love your perspective.

What do PharmDs need to do differently if they want to move from specialist roles into Director, VP, or executive leadership?