I Signed Up For This?

 



     For the past few months I have been helping out an ENT doctor establish a pharmacy in his new clinic. My intent was to help out at clinic and to continue to work as a relief pharmacist. To me it was the best of both worlds, the chance to establish a novel practice and keep my hand in in retail.
    The chain I had been working relief for abruptly closed leaving me with one part time job. No worries. I could handle this.
   Or could I?
   One thing I know about small businesses is that everyone has to pitch in. You have to be willing to do what needs to be done even if it isn't strictly in your job description. Earlier this week I found myself riding in the car with C going on a shopping trip. We had a long list and not a lot of time. Our first patient was due at four o'clock. We had to get some special disinfectant, cleaning supplies and a set of black scrubs. The scrubs were for me. Our patient care specialist had walked out after an argument with a coworker. I was going to have to take her place.
   I was a little nervous. For the past 26 years I had worked as a retail pharmacist. I had not done any direct patient care since I was in high school. I had to do it. There was no one else.
  We went to the store and got the scrubs. I tried them on and they looked pretty good. The petite pants were a bit too short and the regular length pants were too long. I decided on short. Better than tripping on a hem something that a clumsy person like I  could do.
  We picked up the rest of our needs and went back to the clinic. Everyone began to clean something. I prepared the disinfectant spray and sprayed everything. The spray had to sit for 10 minutes. while it sat I mopped. I paused a bit to review the script and workflow that I had developed with Chris and Sydney my new coworkers. I was in the middle of a last minute chat with the doctor when I saw Chris lead a older woman into a treatment room. It was our patient. I rushed into a spare room to change into my scrubs.
   Once I had changed I tapped gently on the door. Chris was in there explaining our financial policy. I backed out carefully and went to get my clipboard with the form that has all my questions on it.
    When Chris was done I tapped on the door gently and let myself in. I introduced myself to the the woman and sat down. I took her blood pressure. We chatted about what she had come to our clinic. I asked her some general health questions. It was a good conversation. After we were done I left her for a moment to get the doctor. He was not where I thought he would be. I finally found him in his office and summoned him to the treatment room. I took my seat in a chair out of the way and paid attention in case I was needed.
   I watched the doctor do his exam while he talked to his patient. . Once he was done, he spoke to her about what he found. He told her that there was some medication that could be helpful. He marked down the prescitiontion on the papers he had and handed the clipboard to me. Then he left the room. I asked her if she had any questions. She didn't so we left. Chris  was waiting to take her copayment for her visit. I said goodbye to her and let her know I would be following up with her in about a week.
   Then I went to call in her prescriptions to her pharmacy. It was so strange to be the one calling them in instead of the one receiving them. Once I was done I went into a post appointment meeting.
   It felt good. I liked what I had done. I was looking forward to the next time.
    This was not what I signed up for, but that was all right. My experience in Toastmasters and with working with people in general had helped. This is going to be an interesting job.