Walgreens’ Post

I wanted to take a moment to talk about the recent walkout @cvspharmacy and @walgreens by pharmacists across the nation. As a physician who prescribes a fair amount of medications, many of which are controlled substances or require complex instructions, I rely heavily on the knowledge, efficiency and accuracy of the pharmacist and their staff. So to hear that they are being stretched to their limits, forced to work long hours with minimal support staff, is not only disheartening, it’s all too familiar. With their mental health and well-being negatively impacted by this unsustainable work environment, no wonder they are putting their foot down and walking out. I know, I’ve been there! Healthcare is a bottom to top, top to bottom streamline with all parts being crucial to deliver safe and timely treatments, and that includes the pharmacist. If one part does’t work, it affects the rest, and thus, the patient suffers. We need to stop making healthcare about the bottom line. I’m not saying I have all the answers, but it seems obvious to me that we start with taking care of the people that help take care of our patients, right? What’s your experience been? Share below! #pharmacistwalkout #healthcare #medicine #doctors #patientcare #patientsafety #worktoxicity #workenvironment #safeworkplacedocs

https://lnkd.in/dQdPfk-g The value in the pharmacies are the members of the pharmacy team who go over and beyond to take care of their patients and community. The system, including corporate and institutional management, as well as policy-makers, need to ensure the teams have the resources and support they need to take care of patients AND THEMSELVES. One loss of a team member in a situation like this is TOO much. Commit to the Pharmacist's Fundamental Responsibilities and Rights - https://lnkd.in/dvEzNKEc . Publicly demonstrate your concern and respect for the pharmacy team through public action. Fix what can be fixed now and commit to advocating for longer term solutions. Decision-makers, step-out and show through visible action! Our thoughts go out to Ashleigh and her family.

For #MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week, we're spotlighting SHPA members who are leading the #deprescribing charge through their work in pharmacy. Thuy Bui, Lead Pharmacist for the LRH Partnership Project at Alfred Health, says pharmacists can minimise inappropriate polypharmacy 'by taking a proactive role in regularly reviewing their patients' medications and advocating for deprescribing where appropriate, especially with high-risk medications.' Read our full 'A Minute With...' Thuy here → https://lnkd.in/gb86C8jz #MedsAware2023

I completely agree with Tom DePietro point on the need for adequate reimbursement for independent pharmacies. It’s appalling to see the sheer neglect of those who've dedicated their lives to the healthcare industry, serving communities and managing patient care with utmost dedication. The system’s failure to provide fair compensation to these professionals, who are the real pillars of healthcare, is a disgrace. What’s even more infuriating is witnessing individuals who have barely scratched the surface of the healthcare industry diving into sectors like specialty pharmacy and 340B, motivated solely by financial gain. It’s unacceptable how these opportunists exploit vulnerable groups, like chasing homeless people for their personal information, just to claim higher reimbursements. We must advocate for a system that rewards genuine commitment to healthcare, rather than this perverse incentive structure that benefits the profit-driven at the expense of the truly dedicated. It’s time to overhaul this broken system that allows the unscrupulous to thrive while those who truly care struggle to make ends meet. This is not just a discrepancy; it’s a moral failure of our health system.

#corporateleaders help your #workingcaregivers and reduce your #healthcarecosts with raising awareness of overmedication (#polypharmacy ). Polypharmacy can increase falls, increase adverse medication events, increase time away needed for your employees who care for family members. #Deprescribing to optimize medication can reduce adverse med events, make people feel better, exercise better, and can reduce frailty. Provide healthy holidays and a healthy new year by sharing #MedStrong with your #workingcaregivers. Support medication reviews with #pharmacists. #MedStrong raises awareness of overmedication and the need to deprescribe unnecessary and inappropriate medications through the 5-Step Medication Optimization Plan. Why not hire a corporate consultant pharmacist to review medications for employees and those they care for? DM me for more information!

Seniors who live alone and don't have anyone assisting them with their medication regimen are at increased risk for accidental poisoning. To avoid accidental poisoning, keep these tips in mind: 🔸 Store medications in their original containers 🔸 Use one pharmacy for all medications 🔸 Ask the pharmacist for large-print labels 🔸 Take medications in a well-lit area 🔸 Have one physician look at all medications to ensure there's no risk of cross-medication poisoning #aginginplace #medicationsafety #safetyathome #homecare

💊 Happy World Pharmacists Day! 💊 Behind every prescription is a pharmacist who keeps our lives "in good health"! 🌡️ Let's celebrate these everyday superheroes who always deliver the right dose of care! 💪 This World Pharmacists Day, show your appreciation by tagging your favorite pharmacist below! 👩⚕️👨⚕️ #PharmacistDay #PharmacistRecommended #WorldPharmacistsDay

In solidarity with Ravi Patel call to action, I urge all independent pharmacies in my network to make your voices heard. The time for change is now; silence is not an option. As we face the reality of PBM reform, it’s crucial that every concern, no matter how small, is documented and reported. Each claim brings us closer to the reform we need to ensure better patient access and fair treatment for pharmacies. Together, let’s create a wave of change and stand united for a system that supports the invaluable services independent pharmacies provide. #PBMReform #PharmacyUnited #PatientAccess #CommunityPharmacy

Chances are, you’ve heard about the medication error that took 2-year-old Emily Jerry’s life and sent a pharmacist to jail. Maybe you were taught the story in school, or maybe you read about it in the news at the time. Odds are, you’ve heard about Eric Cropp. But have you ever heard the story from him? At the recent National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) Conference, Eric Cropp joined RxToolKit Founder Chuck DiTrapano, RPh for an educational session titled “The Second Victim of Medication Errors”. The two pharmacists bravely took the stand and shared some of the most vulnerable experiences of their lives: their medication errors and near misses. To err is human and rather than punish clinicians, Chuck and Eric have dedicated their time to educating others and improving the processes/procedures that contributed to their errors. It’s time to change the way we think about errors and work toward prevention instead of punishment. Read Eric’s story at https://lnkd.in/g4fCqQfF. A webinar recording of this presentation is available to all RxToolKit users through the RxELearning platform. Clinicians not utilizing RxToolKit’s clinical safety and training software can also access the webinar for free at https://lnkd.in/gxn8dmRs. #rxtoolkit #NHIA #webinar #secondvictim #ericcropp #patientsafety #medicationerror #pharmacist #pharmacytech #EmilyJerryFoundation

The issue is that regulators and lawmakers have a conflict of interest when it comes to PBM and payer system reform. CMS employees are regulating their future employers while politicians are hesitant to cut off all those sweet campaign donations. The power players are entrenched. Crossing the moat they created will take a concerted effort by all. We have to have a market solution, public support, and a legitimate effort from those in power. Sadly, I do not see that happening without a full blown crisis. The chains have folded. Walgreens recently said they are foregoing patient care to focus on working with PBMs and increasing volume, CVS was assimilated long ago, and Rite Aid is gone. The only people left to stand up to the all consuming Lovecraftian horror from drinking patient blood for sustenance are the independent pharmacies. Without us, no one would have even known about these abuses. If we are gone, everyone will be left to the monsters. And our time is running out quickly. There are no more time for studies, no more time to wait for submissions, no more time to deliberate incremental changes. We either fix pharmacy reimbursement now or we lose pharmacies forever. Pharmacists United for Truth & Transparency #Pharmacy #PBM