Well, let me give four quick scenarios. We have a 24-hour policy on refills. That's still better than most at least from reading on here. It is still difficult when a patient calls to get their next script of Concerta (we usually give two scripts but until lately we couldn't or didn't give three) and some patients are on an every three month med check schedule. So, they have to call for the med. They are supposed to call a day ahead of time so we can process it, but if they call at 9 am, it's kind of hard for me to think, well it will take one second to print it off and another to sign. I know. Piss poor planning...and all that. But a week ago, my newest staff member told a parent at 10 am they would have to wait until the next day (just like she is supposed to). The patient got a little upset. I know. Who needs a patient like that? But, my other staff memeber had been telling them they could get it in the afternoon.
Today, we had a similar situation so we had one of those, "Put the phones on hold, we are having a mini meeting." To be honest I didn't know what I wanted to do. Just wanted a policy. We have signs everywhere. I look at it like maybe 80% of patients honor it. Same way as for every patient who calls at 2 am with a 99 "fever" there are 200 who didn't call and five that had two year olds with fevers of 104 who didn't call. Personally, I have generally joked that we need 24 hours, but if they call in the parking lot on their cell, I will fill it. It's just not worth the hassle.
While we were having this mini meeting, a 16 yo walked in who had fallen off his bike two days ago. He had come from Walk-In Care with a bandage/bandaid on his chin and wanted a script for Tylenol and Motrin. Yes Mainecare will cover that. They cover most OTC meds, even Melatonin, which costs about $2.00 for 5,000 tablets. OK, maybe $3.00.
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But, I digress from the very beginning. I think I am with you on this. Not that there is a right and wrong. Parents are simply different than a 38 year old. A 38 yo will wait a day for a script. A mother will not let her 5 yo go without codeine or whatever for a cough for two hours. It's just different. If we didn't fax, ePrescribe, call, print out prescription refills, we would lose patients left and right. People can say that you don't want those, but we do. We have to have them.
Take a one month old on Zantac. Sure, they have WCC checks every two months. But, if a mother or father calls a week before the four month check asking for a refill of Zantac, am I going to so know; they have to come in. So, I see them and say, "So how is little Susie doing on the Zantac? Great. OK, here is a refill."
Other meds are different.
I talk to Adam (Family Practice) down the street, and his entire practice is different. From his hours to the number of calls to the fact that he could just put a "Gone fishin'" sign out and maybe one patient would be upset. Patients are just different than parents.
Sorry, rambled on a bit.
