Hello everyone,
While not new to PPO, this is my first time on the forum. Since I've been catching up on your postings, some of my comments might not be relevant, but I'll share anyway:
ORDERING--I used to walk the shelves everyday, but it interfered with the Pyxis techs, so now I do Mondays and Thursdays and rely on the want list and staff to tell me what needs to be ordered. This is kind of a crap shoot, since some are very diligent about writing down or telling me and others seem to think I can read their mind!! On weekends or when I'm not here, techs or pharmacists place the order. I do check in and sticker the order Mon-Fri, but techs put it away. And, no, it isn't the way I would do it, but I try to straighten when I am in the shelves.
INVENTORY--We have done our own inventory for as long as I have worked in the pharmacy (18 years). In the old days, it was all handwritten, but now we use Telxons and download to Amerisource's inventory function. This works pretty well. We check quantities after each download. Some compounding items and other misc. are still written by hand, but that is minimal.
Thanks for letting me share.
Ruth

Name of Facility: PORTER 320beds

City, State: acute care

Years as a Buyer: 7.5

Welcome to the gang!

I'm glad you were finally able to get in and share your perspectives. I just have to comment on your opinion on ordering. After seven years, you should be able to rely on your "Spider Senses", to figure out ordering patterns, employee habits, and how to avoid the weekly "Friday Afternoon Crisis". I'm sure you keep you ear to the pharmacists to find out what the docs are ordering this week, or which sales rep came through the hospital.

You probably do this automatically, like second nature by now, so you'd tend to discount your abilities. After all, can't you walk in on Monday morning and just INSTANTLY know who screwed up the weekend order and how? And don't you just KNOW when a new batch of interns invade your hospital? You have a BIG house and you've kept it clean for over 7 years, or they wouldn't have kept you.

Pharmacy Buyer Day was established to celebrate all of us. Why not give yourself a pat on the back, or better still, let us!

Hope you continue to contribute to the board.

Mike

Name of Facility: Kennedy Health System / 180

City, State: http://www.pharmacypurchasing.com

Years as a Buyer: >30 but Retired (for now...)

I am with Mike on giving yourself a pat on the back. On a good day, you will have read the minds of 100's and probably do not even know you are doing it.

I am curious about using Amerisource for inventory. Cardinal has a similar system and the draw back is the quantity function of cases versus eaches as you discribed. How many changes do you make to the system for the inventory? Currently, we use REGIS and they come in and count by eaches, including the pills and I price the shelves by eaches (this is a lot of work). So if the changes are not that great, the Cardinal system (Amerisource for you) might be very advantageous. It would also give us an itemized summary of the meds. We go right behind REGIS on key areas and do a recount to make sure they are doing the count accurately.

Keep up the good work

Name of Facility: 300

Years as a Buyer: 3.5 in Pharmacy, 25+ in retail hardgoods

Hi Kathy,
Sorry I haven't answered sooner--I've been getting ready for inventory!!!
Actually, we don't make any changes for inventory. I think we finally have everybody educated about entering quantities--it is really a big pain and we all have to be reminded every year. That whole fraction of a package drives me wild. The ABC shelf stickers do indicate how many are in a pack, so the person counting has only to check that info to know what decimal to enter in the Telxon.
It is confusing, but after a few missteps, most of the quantities are entered correctly. And it is pretty apparent to me, especially, and to our ABC rep, if he is here to help on inventory day, when an amount is way off.
I don't know if that helps or not.
I appreciate the encouraging words--I know I do a good job, but being the perfectionist that I am, I take it too personally when we run out of drugs.
Ruth

Name of Facility: PORTER 320beds

City, State: acute care

Years as a Buyer: 7.5

So do we all, Ruth. So do we all!

Name of Facility: Kennedy Health System / 180

City, State: http://www.pharmacypurchasing.com

Years as a Buyer: >30 but Retired (for now...)

Welcome Ruth,
You are doing a good job--Let us buyrs tell you so!! We are important....

Name of Facility: 222 beds

City, State: Acute care teaching hospital Trauma II center

Years as a Buyer: 5 years