A few days ago while I was conducting a screening event, an elderly man came up to have his blood pressure checked. While I prepared for this patient, he squirmed in the chair. After he filled out his consent form, I noticed his uneasiness and asked him if he was nervous. He said that he […]

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 […]

A short time ago, I was consulted by a patient who was going through a rough time. I suggested she see a psychiatrist. She took my counsel and made an appointment. Three months later, I saw her again and she had a new chief complaint. She had gained 25 lbs. After performing a follow-up intervention […]

I always wondered about American Pharmacist Month. Every October, the national chains, warehouse clubs, pharmacy organizations and deep discounters “recognize their pharmacists” in the media through press releases by touting their abilities to immunize, perform medication assessments, do health screenings and their public accessibility as a healthcare practitioner. These organizations offer additional services to the […]

Too often we rely on the medications to solve our problems without thinking about our actions which contributed to the issues in the beginning. Every day I see patients on multiple medications for cholesterol, diabetes, or hypertension who chow down on high-salt/high-fat fast food and candy, or the patient who has breathing problems buying a […]

Change is difficult, but achievable. Many times I counsel patients who are seeking an answer or plan to remedy their situation. It can be to lose weight, eat better, exercise more or save money on their medications. Once the topic of changing behavior is brought up, I could see the resignation in their eyes. Change […]

Saving money at the pharmacy is much more than using generics when filling a prescription, yet this is the most focused strategy. In addition, patients are becoming more cost-conscious and are refusing to pay for medications covered by their plans. Even by using manufacturer’s rebate cards, the expense can be high. However, what about adhering […]

Almost every day, I’m asked for cheaper alternatives to prescribed medicines. Patients can’t afford their prescriptions. This is a sad. The patient’s cost associated with obtaining medication contributes to therapeutic failure more than any other factor. It seems obvious that if the patient can’t afford the drug, there wouldn’t be treatment, yet prescribers are oblivious […]

It’s almost that time of year again when millions of people choose whether to get their annual flu shot. As a pharmacist, I am always asked, “should I get a flu shot?” This isn’t always easy to answer. Getting a flu shot depends on many factors. The top five factors I use to help answer […]

Can you believe what you read? I mean, really believe? How about what you hear or see? I think the older we get the more skeptical we become over what is really the truth and what is fiction in advertising. We all know the big schemes like: “get rich quick”, ponzi, and envelope-stuffing, but how […]