Doctor Doctor give me the news ...

[alanjh595]

I agree. I have to take 3 medications daily, and have been taking them for over 20 years. They are boring meds. and I couldn't catch a buzz if I took a full bottle of any of them alone or in combination together. I always have an extra months supply on hand, and if I need an emergency refill, I just have to ask my pharmacist for them. I also have another 2 weeks supply in my "grab and run" bag.
I have to be very cautious of some over-the-counter or off-the-shelf remedies, as they may have devastating affects on those meds. My pharmacist knows me well and what meds. I take. He is great that way. I also get my annual flu shot from him, no waiting, no questions that he didn't already know the answers to. I see and talk more with my pharmacist than my doctor.
My pharmacist has seen me, and has recommended that I see my doctor immediately, which I did, and he saved my life.
I get 1 year's worth of refills prescribed by the doctor, and dispensed 3 months at a time by the pharmacist. I still have to go once a year, so that he can write a requisition for blood tests to ensure that all levels are normal and within parameters.

[flamingfingers]

I use an independent pharmacy and have had absolutely great service and attention ever since I hooked up with him. He was suggested by the doctor I saw at the walk-in clinic I went to shortly after I moved here. My pharmacy will deliver, free to my door when I can't arrange a car and there is never a quibble about it.

I have been so fortunate to have found a super great GP and a fantastic pharmacist that I feel as though I have won some kind of lottery!!

[my5cents]

Take full advantage of the knowledge and training your pharmacist has acquired. He/she knows more about drugs, interactions, side effects, etc than your doctor does. It is recommended that you use one pharmacy for all your drug requirements so all the information is readily available for any new prescriptions your doctor may give you or enquiries from a hospital, etc.

I never routinely go to my doctor for a prescription refill - I call my pharmacist first. They can check with the doctor for refills if needed and will notify me if the doctor says he won't refill Drug X until he sees me again. The pharmacist will supply me with Drug X until I see the doctor. The pharmacist will also supply meds to cover off when I go on holidays.

You are entitled to one 'Medication Review' by your pharmacist every year, paid by MSP. The pharmacist will go over all of your medications with you and can update you on any newer/cheaper/generic forms that may be to your advantage.

One of my best friends is my pharmacist - make him/her one of yours too!!

There's a minimum number of prescription meds you have to be taking for the medication review. I think its four or five. It's a Pharmacare program.

[oneh2obabe]

There's a minimum number of prescription meds you have to be taking for the medication review. I think its four or five. It's a Pharmacare program.

Correct - 5 meds taken within the last 6 months.

Patient eligibility requires patients to be taking at least five medications within the last six months that have been entered onto PharmaNet. The BC Ministry of Health wanted to ensure that the service was sustainable over the long-term, and that it benefited patients with the greatest need.

https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/resource-cent ... w-services

[my5cents]

I don't have such a glowing story about pharmacists.

Two years ago I was on 6 meds, it was the first renewal in the new year. I was on the way to the dentist and was picking up my prescriptions at a local pharmacy.

I had been taking the same meds for a couple of years, my doctor fully informed me as what and why I was taking what I was taking, no problems.

When the clerk brought the bag containing the meds, she said "you will have to speak with the pharmacist". I was surprized because normally that only happens if I'm taking a new med, all of these were ones I had been taking for a long time and had been renewed without consultation before.

I explained that they were not new meds, so didn't see the reason, also I had to get to my dentist. She was firm, you have to talk to the pharmacist. He came over (he is also the owner) after about 5 minutes. He asked me to step into his office, I explained I had to go, and asked the problem. He started a review of all my meds at the counter, asking me also what vitamins I was taking, and if I had any questions. I didn't have any and didn't know why he was talking about all my meds, he was writing it on a form.

He then said just sign this and we're finished. He gave me a copy and I roared out the store to my appointment.

Laster on arriving home from the dentist I read the form. My signature "verified that I thought I needed a consultation from my pharmacist" etc etc.

I research the program and called Pharmacare I explained they had been defrauded and I wondered just how many people had been coerced to "request" this consultation that cost we tax payers around $60. The young female said it wasn't their program and had no idea what I was talking about. (that's government for you)

I called the College of Pharmacists, spoke to a very knowledgeable person who confirmed it was a Pharmacare program. He suggested if I felt the pharmacy was unscrupulous that I should call the owner and advise him. Ahhhhhh, it WAS the owner.

I now get my meds from Costco. I give the pharmacy a wide birth, for any purchases.

[flamingfingers]

You need practice saying "NO" and "I have to leave." and LEAVING. It was beyond rude of the pharmacist to take up your valuable time. Good for you changing pharmacies!!

[my5cents]

You need practice saying "NO" and "I have to leave." and LEAVING. It was beyond rude of the pharmacist to take up your valuable time. Good for you changing pharmacies!!

I could have just left, but they were holding the drugs ransom (which I had already paid for).

Oh, I've got no problem speaking my mind to anyone, just ask my wife. (Except her).

I wasn't very impressed with Phamacare, not even knowing it was their program.

Costco is fantastic ! $4.49 dispensing, and on average 25% less, for the meds. Mailed to my door, they say allow a week to ten days, but it's usually two days.

[GordonH]

My bone of contention is the double standard.

My specialist has rules posted and strictly enforced by the receptionist, that state if you miss your appointment there's a $50 charge. Fine if that's their rule, but then why is it that in almost three years of having to go there, I find myself sitting and waiting for an average of 45 minutes every visit, on appointments that are made three months in advance?

To my thinking if they can't see me within fifteen minutes of the scheduled time, then they should be paying me for my time.

This isn't a place where emergencies happen, thus I'm left feeling that they think my time is worthless and only theirs has value.

I think that some places have just gotten too smug, in the knowledge that they can do whatever they wish, as we don't really have any recourse.

By contrast my GP on the other hand has never had me wait more than about five minutes, on a prebooked appointment, and that in an office where emergencies do come up now and then.

A person shouldn't have to book half a day off from work, simply to accommodate a five minute session with the doctor.

Over the years I've learned when to book appointments either first one in morning or first one after office lunch break.
Pretty well guaranteed not to have to wait.

[Urban Cowboy]

I'm understanding enough to not let one wait bother me because sometimes chit just happens, but how do you explain an average 45 minute wait, for every one of at least twenty appointments in the last two years?

As I said they don't have emergency type situations there, and about the most time I've ever gotten was five minutes, so just how many appointments do they book in a day?

They are inconveniencing people and doing so knowingly.

I'm curious to know why you think appointments are consistently late?

Do you think the doctors are lazy and sitting around doing nothing? Or is it that a lot of people need to see doctors but there aren't enough of them, so they do the best they can to see everybody and that leads to overbooking and delays?

If they took fewer appointments, would you be happier potentially having to wait weeks longer between your appointments or maybe not being able to see the doctor at all? Or would the 45 minute wait be a better option?

Read SuperMom's post above yours. My experience has been very similar to hers, including the doctor half the time forgetting what meds and dosage he has me on. Not exactly a trait that fills me with confidence, considering they are supposed to have a chart/documentation for their patients.

Why do I think appointments are consistently late? Well because I make them three months in advance, they get confirmed two or three work days prior, then I still get to sit and wait for three quarters of an hour beyond my scheduled time.

Why bother scheduling an appointment if they aren't going to stick to the schedule?

I'd be happier if they didn't schedule far more work than they are apparently capable of doing, without inconveniencing the client.

Why is this never an issue with my GP who is just as busy, if not more so?

[flamingfingers]

Complain to the doctor directly - he may not even realize that you have been sitting waiting for 45 minutes. He/she is the only one who can do something about it.

Take a list of your meds/dosage and how often each day you take them - anything to help him remember your condition - good they are, God they are not, especially if as you say they see so very many patients each day.

Be specific about what you want. Open the conversation and make clear what your problem is and what you expect that will help you.

Also, if you can manage to get to the office in short order, tell the office to put you on the cancellation list - if they have a cancellation, they can call you in to take another patient's short notice cancelled appointment.

[DarkMagna]

If there is a limit to the number of patients then why keep someone who never comes to see you.

Why not?
It's not like she's wasting their time....

[Bsuds]

If there is a limit to the number of patients then why keep someone who never comes to see you.

Why not?
It's not like she's wasting their time....

What I am saying and this is total speculation...

Lets say that each Doctor is limited to 500 patients max and no more. He/she has a few that never make appointments. Why not drop them and add some that will use their service on a more regular basis?

[flamingfingers]

What I am saying and this is total speculation...

Lets say that each Doctor is limited to 500 patients max and no more. He/she has a few that never make appointments. Why not drop them and add some that will use their service on a more regular basis?

Patients are often 'lost to followup' and the files are purged. "Lost to followup' may mean that the patient has died, moved out of province or practice area, found another doctor and the original GP has not been notified. There is no set limit on when files are purged......

There are many variables in determining how many patients a doctor can serve in his practice:

https://residentdoctorsbc.ca/how-many-p ... -practice/

Government does not set an arbitrary limit on the number of patients a doctor has in his practice.

[my5cents]

What I am saying and this is total speculation...

Lets say that each Doctor is limited to 500 patients max and no more. He/she has a few that never make appointments. Why not drop them and add some that will use their service on a more regular basis?

I think they are limited to the number of patients they see in a certain length of time, not the total number of patients they have.

A doctor could have 10,000 patients but can only see, one every ??? 15 minutes ???

That being the case, I'm sure there is a formula that they try to stick to, to keep the number per hour to the limit. If a doctor has too many patients the length of time it would take to see a patient would increase and be unmanageable for the patients.

Also, I'm sure the make up of the patient base makes a difference. If all a doctor's patients are young, (yes as time goes by they get older) they are likely not seen that often. A doctor that has a large number of older patients sees them more often.

[mexi cali]

The wording of the topic, got me thinking of my peeve.

I live in Summerland, saw a specialist in Kelowna. He sent me for some special tests that I guess only specialists order.

A week or so later I get a call from his office, "the doctor wants to see you".

So drive to Kelowna, wait half an hour, get in to see the doctor. "everything is fine, the tests were negative". What !!! ???

That's how they get paid. If they tell you over the phone, no cashola.