Imagine going to the pharmacy and believing that the pharmacist had, without your permission or your physician's, switched your medicine to something lower quality, inferior clinically, different from your regular medicine, and all because it was "cheaper." Well, Mr. Jones called me for a price check, and that's the story I got. The more I listened, the more I realized that he didn't understand the "generic" they tried to give him was the exact same thing.
After I explained the situation, Mr. Jones said, well, no one ever told me that; I had no idea they were giving me the exact same thing. He told me that he was profoundly grateful to have this new information, since he had no idea how he was going to afford his medicine when insurance no longer covered it, because of the preference for the generic.
Just like that, a new believer in generic medicines was born. It was truly an epiphany. The things we take for granted--you can't even assume someone knows what a generic medicine is--wow! We must continue to spread the word, and not assume ANYTHING.
Get a flu shot, if you can!
About Me
- pharmd2009
- After spending 4 years as a Student Pharmacist, ultimately graduating with my Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree May 2009, and working towards licensure the Summer of 2009, I have come to realize the practice of pharmacy is not JUST about the drugs. Patients are "real" people with "real" questions, and by my training, I will have the ability to offer the knowledge that can be life-changing to my patients. Improving patients' quality of life by improving their healthcare, that's why I went to pharmacy school. I'd like to keep this blog as a diary of whether I fulfill this mission--and also to keep my mind and my heart focused on my patients and the meaningful difference I hope to make in my service to the public through my chosen profession as a pharmacist.
My graduation day was Saturday, May 2, 2009.
I received my license as a Registered Pharmacist in the State of Montana July 9, 2009.
