Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Pharmacy
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Pharmacy [18 VAC 110 ‑ 20]
Action Pharmacy working conditions
Stage Emergency/NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 11/22/2023
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11/22/23  10:19 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

Needs more specifics
 

For years the profession has been going in the direction of tailoring care of patients by building relationships.  Within the retail community this has been squeezed out of the practice in exchange for profits.  While large chains want to say they are serving the patients and community they are overworking the people who would like to build relationships with patients.  This law is a step in the right direction, however without specifically stating what would be justification for inaction on reported unsafe working conditions I fear that no changes would be made regardless of the reporting from a PIC.  I do believe that pharmacist should not work alone.  I have been practicing for 20 years and I have made the most errors in these last 3 years due to working alone without a technician.  Having a community of employees improves moral and helps to keep the environment safe at work, knowing you are not alone.  There should be a law in place stating that 1:1 ratio for Pharmacist to tech is a minimum requirement when the pharmacy is open.  I believe these laws are a step in the right direction but are a bit vague.  I believe they still allow for loop holes for larger corporations to use.  I believe they will point to technology as decreasing the workload or decreasing distractions, when they are adding on other expectations while taking away one.  I think that there will not be a retail pharmacy practice that can sustain the community if more is not done to protect those that work in it.  As it stands now many who are left do not care for the people that they serve.  They have DUR fatigue, are becoming hardened and non empathic, to the patients.  To infuse some hope into the profession there needs to be a law passed showing that the board is ready and willing to make the practice of pharmacy safe for all fields, and ready to stand up to large corporations to keep the public safe. 

 

 

CommentID: 220707