Anyone using EPRN (kroger) how do you bill an auto accident claim? TIA

For those in LTC or bill any kind of cycle fill, do you bill or send claims every 7 days or wait till the end of the month to send all the claims thru? We were told this is coming and I can’t find much info on it. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

i work hospital pharmacy at pretty much one of the only hospitals in the area that isn't outright terrible in terms of overworking/understaffing/so on and so forth. things are mostly okay, but my compensation is pretty garbage for my qualifications as an inpatient tech. what rubs salt in the wound is that other techs who are at my same amount of experience with fewer qualifications get the same compensation.

i have my CPhT and am an immunizer. i also have a bachelor of science and am currently getting prereqs to apply for pharmacy school. i additionally have my BLS and ACLS certifications. some of my colleagues have... none of the above. if you ask them anything about a drug, they will have no idea about anything pertaining to it whereas i generally know what pretty much any drug that we utilize in this hospital does and its general mechanism of action/applications and proper storage or use.

you may be thinking, "well, there's no reason for a tech to need BLS/ACLS etc" - and for most, that's true. however, i am the sole PM tech on duty most nights and have wound up in situations with new/young pharmacists freaking out and stalling when we get urgent codes/rapids in the ED that need particular meds that i've had to talk them through. for example, a peds epi drip that needed to be made right then for an infant that kept going from brady sinus to PEA. the situation warranted someone who knew what all of this meant and its importance in the moment and thus, it proved massively beneficial in the situation and could prove beneficial in others. i've been there when codes suddenly happened on the floor and did timekeeping. i'm not gonna go run to ICU with a sudden code, but to have someone able to jump in wherever needed on the floor is undeniably helpful.

i'm just rambling at this point, i know it's ultimately useless to complain about. sometimes i really just wish the extra lengths i go to and the knowledge i do have is appropriately rewarded and feels 'worth it'. i just kind of stew for the time being in my fascination with medicine but inability to do anything real with it until i finish school.

Started retail pharm tech job last week. Things were smooth sailing until Monday this week. Manager stuck me in drive thru first week, trained for 2 days then left. Now I’m constantly asking for help when issues like codes or something like that comes up and they get upset at me for asking. For context, not my first pharmacy job. Worked at mom and pop pharmacy (no drive thru). I thought I would be able to adjust but MAN! It is car after car, each with their own set of problems. I hate how the customers think that we are supposed to operate the same way that fast food does. If a consult with a patient takes 5 minutes, the patient coming behind them will say “you don’t respect others time at all” like wtf??? Not to mention if that person has at least 5 or more different medications, of course it’s going take longer to ensure accuracy. 🙄in my pharmacy, all the medications are just COMPLETELY disorganized. It’s a rare few that actually are put together. It’s either one here and another one here(which makes NO sense because they’re so big on this rule of putting it all together). Or in the refrigerator they’re just thrown everywhere. So now I’m searching high and low for the medication, patient is getting upset, and it’s just not good. Or when they come after we already did RTS and get pissed because we put the medication back.. after sending numerous calls and texts and emails!! 😡I swear these people just see you as a punching bag. And maybe it’s just DT but like it gives me so much anxiety because I don’t know if the next person is going to cause a complete scene or be somewhat mild-mannered. And please do not get me started on all the insurance BS, lol. I’m stuck on drive thru for a month, then move to register(adding on vaccine paperwork), then fill, then data entry. And what I hate about that was that I never even got to just shadow somebody in fill or data entry (just to see how it’s done their way) Since my first day it’s just been “ ok go to drive thru “ like 😞that makes me a little sad because I am licensed and just being stuck to DT. I know how to do those things!! I like to do those things!! But, I get every company is different.

It’s just really overwhelming to me and I’m trying to move past it, because I want to get to the part of the job that I really enjoy (filling/compounding) but man, I don’t know if I can last. Sorry if this rant was too long. 😕

Going to take the exam and have been looking for a study guide! Appreciate any help

I renewed my license online a few days ago. How long will it take? It says 2 business days, but does anyone have experience with this?

So this may be a dumb question, but I got married and my name is changed on my license but not my SSI and all my supporting docs have my maiden name for my address and ectera. However my id with my maiden name has a previous address, is this going to cause issues when I get my fingerprints?

Hi everyone, i have an interview at walgreens this friday for a pharmacy cashier position. I have my trainee license, so im hoping to work towards getting my technician license as time goes on. Does anyone know what they would ask at the interview? Im a bit nervous, should I bring a copy of my resume and my license certificate? The manager over the phone did state the interview would be informal but i would rather be more prepared. Thanks in advance!

I take my exam tomorrow afternoon at Pearson vue ..Any info you guys think I should know? my practice bank is green..I’m halfway thru my ptcb hero…etc?????

I just received an email saluting my application has been received here in California…u to 30 days for them to issue /review? I want to work!

I am currently a CPhT and was interested in sterile compounding. My current experience is only in retail but I would love to explore this new area. Looking at the PTCB website it looks like in order to obtain the certification you have to work in sterile compounding for at least a year as well as complete a training program. I was wondering how it was possible to get the sterile processing experience without getting the certification first, as well as if anyone had any advice for programs and such. My major concern is I am a prepharm student as well so I’m looking for options that are compatible with me also taking classes during the week.

For the love of god, PLEEEEEEASE stop waiting until the very last minute to refill your medications. We are often very packed with fill orders and your chance of receiving a medication that you may desperately need on the same day is very slim. This counts even more if you use a retail pharmacy. Normalize calling about 3-5 days early in order to put in a request for a refill a few days ahead. I just had a patient throw an entire fit because she wasn't going to get her medication today before she left town on a month long vacation all because She waited until the day that she ran out of the medication (today) to request a refill.

Hey everyone,

I thought I’d just rant about this because it’s such a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

When I ask patients’ agent for their ID for NMS (Narcotic Monitoring System) or just to verify the patient’s information for a controlled substance RX, I get a handful of them that get offended and begin asking me, “well why do I need to show you ID if I come here all the time?” “Oh you’re definitely new here if you don’t know who I am” “I was never asked this before, why am I being asked now? You’re just making up the rules!” (Literally had someone say that to me once and I felt my brain just face palming 🤦🏻‍♀️)

I usually follow it up with “legally speaking sir/ma’am, we always require ID when it comes to controlled prescriptions. That’s the regulations here in Canada with these types of medications. “ and then they STILL have the nerve to make comments about me “being new” (even though I’m not, I interchange between various locations) and I reply again with the same thing, “I understand, nonetheless it’s still the regulations and laws here in Canada. “

It is so frustrating when patients think they can triumph over the law and also some pharmacy personnel who SHOULD be asking for it ALL. THE. TIME. despite the patient coming to the pharmacy often or whatever the case it. I’ve brought that up already with my designated manager and staff is definitely asking for NMS every time, but still having these handful of stubborn patients is becoming annoying. Maybe that’s because I’m not a year cracked into the position yet but goodness me, is this tiring 🌝

Any advice on getting a hospital job? I’ve been at my retail pharmacy for 2 years. So far all the hospitals i’ve been applying to been denying me. I’m certified, have my bls certification and I immunize. Anything else I could add to my resume to make my chances higher at getting a spot?

Hi! If anyone knows about the interview process for this position and what kinds of questions they ask pls let me know ! I have an interview this Friday

“After will got stabbed, and everyone stared” 🤣🤣☠️

While this isn't my first pharmacy job, this has been by far my most difficult one and I haven't even been there 2 months. To start, it's my first time working a retail pharmacy position. Im more used to warehouse pharmacy technician jobs, which I loved. We did LTC and nursing home runs, shipping monthly meds, and the occasional family would show up to grab grandma or grandpas meds that missed the run. Now Im working in a mom and pop style pharmacy because I moved 45 minutes away from my last job and needed something more accessible to me. Im answering phones and filling medications for the most part. Sometimes interacting with costumers, but that isn't even the worst part. I LOATHE the set up of this place. All the medications are somewhat in the same place as one another and alphabetized, but for the most part its a complete guessing game on where things are, and what goes where. Theres the shelves behind the counter, and then theres a room off to the side were the extras(at least thats what i've been told they are) and the medications that go into the PARATA machine are and we use them for manual fills too because 9/10 times someone hasn't refilled the machine and we're in the middle of walk-in rush. Putting them back is another nightmare within itself because unless you know the store like the back of your hand, good luck. We also have EZ med which is in the complete back of house where you CANNOT take medication from unless absolutely necessary. All of this makes for a hard and longer fill times because we're spending most of it either searching for medications or grabing the wrong ones. We have this one pharmacist who I personally think should not be one. (she thinks covid is a HOAX. do with that info as you will.) She's condescending and down right mean. Her son works as a tech with us and she runs EZ med when she isnt needed up front. Now the rule as most of you are familiar with is if you can't find something, you get a second pair of eyes and if they cant find it, you order it or give it to the pharmacist. We have a stock number on the bottom of our labels, but it's ALWAYS wrong, so don't bother looking at it. This woman cracks down on the "ask someone before ordering it" rule. We have new hires and some of them are not as fortunate to have come from another pharmacy so they don't quite get this yet. She does not let up. She also thinks the only competent person in this building is her 18 year old son. Anyone else is but a peasant. I had an altercation with her the other day where I could not find a specific kind of melatonin. I asked for a second pair of eyes, who also did not find it. So my second stop before ordering it was going back to EZ med to ask if I could have some of their stock. While waiting for my other coworker to give me the melatonin, the pharmacist comes back YELLING "dont give that to her! here it is, you NEED to ask someone up front before coming back here!" I apologized, told her I did and took the bottle she had found. while walking back out to the front she goes "WALK FASTER, HURRY UP!" first of all lady, I will make your life a living hell. Try. Me. I let this one slide because I wasn't in the mood to argue. A little while later she comes out and is talking to our owner about how the new hires aren't double checking before manually bypassing the pop up in our system telling them the medication is wrong. sometimes the NDC doesn't read. But the pharmacists(yes, her included) arent triple checking the medications before sending them off and customers are calling about getting the wrong thing. But shes looking DIRECTLY at me while saying this. As if IM the sole reason this is happening. I know how to do my fucking job. The second time she tried me was today. I was waiting for my labels to print and had a split second to respond to my spouse about bills and she turns to the owner and says "jeez, its only ever girls I see on their phones in this place" and then looks back at me. Everyone in this building has their phone out, if its an issue tell me DIRECTLY. Then she goes to help her precious son put back medications and says that were "fucking slobs" for not putting the PARATA meds back on the shelf and instead in the baskets behind us where we throw our bottles to get them out of our way before getting a chance to put them back. This woman makes my blood boil and I hate working with her and her son. Its gotten to the point where I am so anxious when shes around that I am making mistakes in my work, and I dont know what to do.

So I’m compiling all the things I need to apply for my license but it says I need notarized transcripts from my high school? Does this mean they have to be signed? Would I have to go back to the high school? I just wanna make sure I don’t have to wait :(

Okay, calling all inpatient technicians. Maybe nobody else will understand this because my situation is kinda uncommon but I just want to throw this out there.

What is the policy for after hours nursing access to the pharmacy at your hospital?? I’m curious because I work for 2 small rural hospitals that do not have a 24 hour pharmacy as we don’t have an IV room and the nurses mix all their own drugs. I am the only technician for these 2 hospitals and the pharmacists only show up once a week, so my time has to be equally divided and there are times when the nursing staff run out of certain drugs and have to fish them out of the pharmacy. Apparently this is not a common thing?? I need y’all’s thoughts and opinions.

after 3 years as a licensed pharmacy tech and quite literally 1 day of studying i passed my ptce and am officially a CPhT!! honestly so close to just leaving my current toxic workplace. anyone else feel like after the ptce it just feels like one step out the door?

I really love my job as a tech but it’s a dead-end and the pay isn’t even in the vicinity of where I need it to be to pay my mortgage (I’m married so we get by). But with Pharmacists starting, it looks like, around 90K on the low end entry, I’d be secure with enough to save. But it would take me 8 years and around 250k from beginning to end.

So I just took my exam and got a preliminary pass (yay) but I’m a big skeptical cus I had to guess on quite a few questions. So I’m just wondering has anyone ever gotten a pass and then when they get their actual score it’s actually a fail? Or does a pass mean you’re good?

Also, license expires on the 31st (2 days I know) I already applied for an extension but would I be able to go in and renew it with just a preliminary pass or do I need my official score?

Hi, anyone know if there’s an online course for pharmacy tech where you will definitely get financial aid if qualified ? I tried two so far and they told me they only accept out of pocket.

I’m not a pharmacy tech… but I searched for this sub after getting home just now because of the maddening experience I just had as a customer.

I went into Walgreens to pick up prescriptions for my wife and child on the way home from work. Waited 20 minutes behind boomers that didn’t know their debit card PIN number, didn’t know what phone number to enter on the card reader, didn’t know what prescriptions they were there for, and were upset that refills weren’t ready when they never called to have them refilled. The poor techs had to practically yell so the boomers could hear them, and they would just stare blankly at the tech for 5-10 seconds after every basic question before even responding - almost always rudely or condescendingly.

Meanwhile the seating area behind me is full of more boomers waiting on their Covid and flu shots and loudly complaining that it was twenty minutes past their appt time and how they should have packed a lunch. I see the pharmacist around the corner talking to one of the techs saying none of these people filled out their shot questionnaires, have insurance on file, or signed the paperwork ahead of time so that’s why she’s behind on the immunization appointments.

I always use the drive through but the line was long and I needed to grab a gallon of milk on the way home so I thought it would be smart to run inside. If that shit show is the norm - never again. The entire experience was so loud, chaotic, and overwhelming, I cannot imagine facing that madness on a daily basis. I had to crack a beer and sit in silence for ten minutes after getting home because i felt so overstimulated and irritated. Then felt the need to pull out my phone and make this post.

There is no way i could do your job for less than $100/hr and even then I’m not sure I’d last a week.

I am thrilled with the offer because the pay and hours are better than anything I have had. However, this is an apprenticeship position at a retail pharmacy, and I have no background or training as a pharmacy technician.

What would you wish you knew before getting into this job? What should I know?

I currently live outside of Houston tx in a small town. With potential of moving to southwest side of Texas in an even smaller remote town. Due to boyfriend’s job. I’m not fully certified yet. I take my test on the 23rd of November. But I’m looking for a legit remote pharmacy technician job. I’ve been a pharmacy tech in training for about a year now I have experience in retail. Processing insurance,doing input, prior authorization, ordering, and handling customers over the phone along with in person.

I want to find a legit company to work for and not one that’s going to give me the run around. If you have any company recommendations it would be greatly appreciated.

TIA.

my answer:

it was just me and the pharmacist, we had 7 ppl waiting for shots, a line at drive thru, 4 ppl at consultation, 3 ppl trying to drop off prescriptions, and 7 ppl waiting at pickup.

we were both with a patient and one patient got mad at us for not attending to them the second then they walked up to the counter. it was very clear we were helping other ppl that were there before them.

the person kept yelling, “DO YOU ALL NOT SEE ME?” then would run to the front and ask the front store workers why we won’t tend to their needs. then they would come back and say, “I NEED YOU TO CHECK ME OUT IT’S YOUR JOB HELLO”

we ignored them until we were done helping our patients, then i went up to the customer and grabbed whatever they needed just for them to walk away and not pick up their prescription and walk to the front and tell the front store, “i’ll be back later this week, apparently people cannot do their jobs anymore.”