It’s 5 o’clock on a Friday afternoon of a 3-day weekend. In walks Mrs. Late with a prescription bottle for her husband’s cholesterol pills and asks for a refill. After glancing at the bottle, she was informed that “there were no more refills and that the physician had to be contacted to get more medication approved”. This statement sets off a chain reaction of comments that include: “He needs this medication now”, “If he gets a heart attack it will be your fault”, “Why didn’t you call his doctor to get more pills approved, you knew it was his last refill”, and “No one told me that the prescription had no more refills”.

Now, it’s decision time… there’s an answer for each concern she raised on this issue; however, she doesn’t care to hear any of them. Mrs. Late wants her husband’s pills and she’s not leaving until she gets them. Fortunately, there is some latitude in the law here that allows pharmacists to extend an emergency supply of medication used for chronic problems. Mrs. Late is offered a 4-day supply of medication and leaves satisfied that her husband would not be without his medication on a long weekend. This was one way to handle this “unplanned” situation.

So here’s the planned version: It’s 5 o’clock on a Friday afternoon of a 3-day weekend. In walks Mrs. Late to pick up her husband’s cholesterol pills. She saw on the refill bottle when she picked it up last month that there were no more refills for the medication, and called his physician in the middle of the last month of pills. This gave Mr. Late’s physician time to review Mr. Late’s medication file, discuss any issues with the patient, and call in a new prescription for him for his pills before the long weekend. Mr. Late got the care he needed from his physician to maintain his health, Mrs. Late got all of her husband’s medication in one trip, and the pharmacy got to maintain a great relationship with a customer.

Too often we pass the responsibility of our healthcare needs to others who provide a service because we are too busy. And when we don’t get what we want, we blame the service provider for something that is inherently our responsibility. The physician provides the diagnosis and care plan, the pharmacy provides the medication and counseling, and the patient is to “own” the condition and do as instructed by the trained professionals to achieve the desired outcomes. If you are running low on pills, you are to inform the pharmacy for a refill. If there are no refills left, you are to contact the physician. The physician indicates how many refills they want you to have before you are to see them again. I know a lot of patients think that this is just another way for the physician to charge a copayment; however, this is also another way for the physician to ensure you are being properly cared for – through monitoring you on the way to restoring your health. It’s their way to make sure that the unseen (what’s going on on the inside) is not going to cause a problem later on. We may “feel” good, but it’s their way to make sure.

Thoughtfully planning our recovery will alleviate a lot of wasted time, money and stress. Some patients use a pill box to help them get and stay organized. It is a good way to keep a schedule.

Until next week, stay well.

Dion