pharmacist Michael Addo, 35, at a Lansing Rite Aid near the Frandor Shopping Center was killed

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

_media_2015_05_07_MIGroup_Lansing_635666195052295537-Ricard-Taylor.jpgAttorney: Man charged in Rite Aid killing legally insane

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2015/05/07/ricard-taylor-trial-begins/70906934/

MASON – The day before Ricard Taylor allegedly shot and killed his neighbor, he asked him if he wanted to die and wanted to feel what it was like to get shot, witnesses testified Thursday.

Taylor, 35, and his East Lansing neighbor, 27-year-old Jordan Rogers, had argued the night of Mother’s Day last year. It was the second argument in as many days, which also included short fight, according to testimony on the first day of Taylor’s murder trial. The next day, prosecutors said Taylor went to Rogers’ home where he shot and killed him, less than an hour after shooting and killing pharmacist Michael Addo, 35, at a Lansing Rite Aid near the Frandor Shopping Center.

Taylor is charged with two counts of murder in the May 2014 killings. He also faces multiple gun charges.

The trial began Thursday in front of Ingham County Circuit Court Judge William Collette. It is expected to last four to five days.

Keith Watson, Taylor’s attorney, said he isn’t going to contest whether his client killed Rogers and Addo, but instead will argue Taylor was legally insane when he committed the crimes.

Several witnesses, including Rite Aid workers and Rogers’ fiancee, testified Thursday. Key testimony from psychiatrists will come later in the trial.

One of those witnesses will be a psychiatrist who spent three days evaluating Taylor last year. Taylor told that psychiatrist on the third day of his psychiatric evaluation that he thought Rogers and Addo were morphing into werewolves or vampires, according to Watson and John Dewane, Ingham County deputy chief assistant prosecutor.

Taylor is a paranoid schizophrenic, Watson said.

While the burden of proof is usually on prosecutors, in this case Watson is required to prove that Taylor had a mental illness and couldn’t fully appreciate the consequences of his actions while committing the crimes, Dewane said. Both elements have to be present.

During his opening statement, Dewane said Taylor did not mention werewolves or vampires until the third day of his evaluation because it was between the second and third day, while in custody, that he came across a book and a movie about them.

When law enforcement arrested Taylor at his home, he told officers he had a gun, where it was and that he killed his neighbor, Dewane said in his opening statement. He added that Taylor gave a consistent story of both shootings to police and psychiatrists.

What’s next

The trial for Ricard Taylor, who is charged with two counts of murder in the May 2014 killings of Jordan Rogers pharmacist Michael Addo, is expected to continue today.

 

 

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You be the judge

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

image2 IMG_0475

Both of these “people” are in their 80’s (in human years)… if they were seen by their doctor… and both were suffering from chronic pain… which one do you think is more likely to get appropriate pain management ? Does one or both deserve to have their quality of life optimized and their pain minimized ?

Filed under: General Problems | 3 Comments »

“they would have seen that a child was receiving ten times the recommended dosage”

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

2 Investigators: Boy Almost Dies After Prescription Misfilled

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/05/06/2-investigators-boy-almost-dies-after-prescription-misfilled/

(CBS) — More than 1.3 million people are injured every year from medication errors according to FDA estimates.

Some pharmacy errors have been deadly and as CBS 2 Investigative Reporter Pam Zekman found out, regulatory oversight of pharmacy errors here in Illinois has been hampered by a court decision and legislative failures.

The most typical pharmacy errors include patients who get the wrong drug, dosage or instructions even someone else’s medication.

“What a blunder this is,” says Robin Ahmed, whose then five-year-old son Ali Ahmed was given an adult Ali Ahmed’s Haloperidol, an antipsychotic instead of his allergy medication.

After the child had two doses, Robin Ahmed says, “He can’t breathe, he can’t talk.”

“They told me if you would have given him one more dose you could have lost your son,” said Ali’s mother, Eda.

Now they’re suing Walgreens for negligence.

“If they would have looked at the dosage they would have seen that a child was receiving ten times the recommended dosage,” said Matt LaSusa, the Ahmeds’ attorney. “They simply misfilled a prescription intended for somebody else.”

A Warrenville Walgreens apparently misfilled a prescription for 15-year-old Kenya Reyes. Instead of getting an antibiotic, she got Olanzapine, used to treat schizophrenia.

“My heart started racing so fast and I just had blurred vision and I was getting so scared,” Kenya Reyes said.

“It breaks my heart because I was so afraid that she was gonna die that day,” said Elva Reyes, her mother.

We know of two wrongful death lawsuits that have cost Walgreens $57 million. Two more were settled for a confidential amount.

How common are pharmacy errors? A national study of 50 pharmacies revealed a 1.7 percent error rate.

“There’s four billion prescriptions dispensed in the United States per year. Even one percent of that is 40 million errors every year in retail pharmacies,” said Northwestern University’s Bruce Lambert, who has studied medication errors in the past.

There are no accurate statistics on the number of medication errors in Illinois because the state does not require retail pharmacies to report them as 15 other states do.

And there are other ways in which pharmacy regulation is weak. Under national law, pharmacy companies can keep their mistakes confidential if they set up internal review systems and in Illinois, they can ignore state subpoenas for error reports thanks to a court case won by Walgreens.

Carmen Catizone, Executive Director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, says, “The information is not available and without that information, there’s no way to protect consumers.”

“That’s frightening isn’t it from a patient protection point of view,” asks Pam Zekman.

“As a patient, as a regulator it’s very concerning to us,” Catizone says.

Robin Ahmed says, “What bugs me: this could happen to anybody in the future. Other kids.”

The newly appointed head of the Department of Professional Regulation is a former attorney for Walgreens and declined an on camera interview. A spokesman says patient safety is the agency’s number one priority. He says DPR would support legislation that would require mandatory report of prescription errors and ease the effect of that Illinois court decision which impedes their efforts and “arguably compromises patient safety.”

Since 2010 records show DPR has disciplined seven pharmacists and one pharmacy for medication dispensing errors.

A Walgreens spokesman declined to answer our questions about these cases but said it has safety checks in place to reduce the chance of human error. “Quality, safety and accuracy are our top priorities,” he said.

Walgreens submitted a written statement to CBS 2 saying, “In the event of a prescription error, our first concern is always for the patient. Any such incident is reported to the Patient Safety Research Foundation, Inc. – one of 84 PSOs listed by the federal government, in accordance with our Continuous Quality Improvement Process.

The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (Patient Safety Act) authorized the creation of Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs) to help reduce the incidence of events that adversely affect patients. PSOs are designed to improve the quality and safety of the U.S. healthcare system by encouraging clinicians and healthcare providers to voluntarily report and share data on patient safety events without fear of legal discovery. For decades, Illinois has recognized a similar peer review privilege for hospitals and physicians under the Illinois Medical Studies Act.

Additionally, we have a multi-step prescription filling process with a number of safety checks in each step to reduce the chance of human error. Quality, safety and accuracy are our top priorities, and we make it clear to our pharmacists that we do not want them to work beyond what they believe is safe, in their professional judgment.”

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The “dirty back story” on the war on drugs and immigration

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

If you  think that the “war on drugs” is not a INDUSTRY…  you need to watch these series of videos about the “dirty back story” of the real reason why we have the highest per-cent of our population in a prison…. than any other country … whether it is immigrant or drug offender… their target is non-violent prisoners… an expensive/profitable  “baby sitting service” for the private prisons…

Filed under: General Problems | 3 Comments »

“Do you think you’ve turned away legitimate patients in pain?” … “Yes,” Pharmacist Corbin explained.

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

Pill mill crackdown having unintended consequences for pain patients who can’t get pain pills

http://www.scrippsmedia.com/fox4now/featured/Pill-mill-crackdown-having-unintended-consequences-for-pain-patients-who-cant-get-pain-pills-302575081.html

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – “I have two fractures of the shoulder,” Jackie Larson said.

Larson’s shoulder is in a sling.

“There was a severe pain. I couldn’t move the arm at all,” explained Larson.

The emergency room prescribed oxycodone, but getting the pain killer turned into an even more painful experience.

“They would simply tell me it’s not in stock,” Larson said. “They wouldn’t order it. You get exasperated at that point and they just stand there with a stoic face telling you it’s no, no, no.”

Larson went to not one, but 14 different pharmacies.

“That’s when I was angry. Let’s put it that way. I was standing there in pain,” explained Larson.

Larson is not alone.

“I am in torture. My son has to see me in pain and it’s not fair. It’s not right,” explained Maria Phipps.

Phipps said it’s hard to get comfortable.

“This is where I am most of my life,” Phipps said as she cried in bed.

Hydrocodone is the only thing that takes the edge off. She’s forced to ration it, unable to get enough control of her pain.

“I understand there were pill mills and people overdosed and died, but I didn’t do any of that. I actually need the pain meds,” explained Phipps.

“Do you think you’ve turned away legitimate patients in pain?” Strathman asked pharmacist Michael Corbin.

“Yes,” Corbin explained.

Corbin is the owner of Kings Health Mart Pharmacy and said he denies 50% of the pain prescriptions presented at his counter. He said he has no choice.

“If the pharmacist doesn’t do a very diligent job in a fairly short period of them they can lose their license or be fined,” explained Corbin.

The Drug Enforcement Administration or DEA has cracked down on pharmacies to fight pill mills. Two years ago, Walgreens Jupiter distribution center and six stores were part of a record $80 million settlement with the DEA for filling suspicious drug orders.

The Jupiter distributor was the largest supplier of oxycodone in the state.

“Sometimes the chains have knee jerk reactions to bad press and cut people off,” explained Corbin.

As an independent pharmacist Corbin is still feeling the impact.

“The shortages in a way are artificial,” Corbin said.

Corbin says distributors have cut back, and only supply a limited quantity.

“Somewhere around 16% of your total purchases can be controlled substances,” Corbin explained.

So who sets these limits?

“A lot of people are blaming us,” explained James F. DiCaprio, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the DEA Tampa District Office.

DiCaprio said the DEA is not the problem.

“We don’t control how much they distribute for legitimate reasons,” DiCaprio explained.

So the agency won’t be fixing this problem.

“We don’t want to overreach and get involved in a process we shouldn’t be involved in,” explained DiCaprio.

Until someone fixes the problem, pharmacists said they’ll continue making judgment calls at the counter.

“The first thing we do is check the Florida database to see what prescriptions a patient has been using from every pharmacy and ever doctor in the state,” explained Corbin.

The database is free.

“It makes no sense that it’s not being used,” Corbin said.

Corbin feels if it was used more it would stop addicts from getting pills, but allow people who need painkillers to get them.

“We are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty in this country and I am being treated as if I already am a criminal,” explained Larson.

The American Medical Association said this is a complex problem that requires a multi-tiered approach to deal with it. They feel the focus should be on education for patients and physicians, increased access to treatment programs and access to lifesaving overdose prevention medication.

If you need pain medication here’s some Watchdog Wisdom to get it filled faster:
1. Only go to one doctor
2. Form a relationship with one pharmacy
3. Don’t call ahead
4. Don’t fill the prescription it before it’s time

With Walgreens, the drug store admitted to the New Hampshire Medical Society that there is no need to go from one Walgreens pharmacy to another. “If one Walgreens pharmacist refuses a specific prescription for an opiod for a patient, that prescription will be refused at all Walgreens pharmacies, as it has been entered into our system as ‘refused.'”

Walgreens said in a statement, “With the sharp rise in abuse of controlled substances in recent years, health care professionals in all practices are continuously striving to find better ways of ensuring those medications are used only for legitimate medical purposes. We are working to ensure our patients continue to have access to the medications they need while fulfilling our role in reducing potential abuse and misuse of controlled substances. We firmly believe that addressing prescription drug abuse will require all parties — including leaders in the community, physicians, distributors and regulators — to play a role in findings solutions to combatting abuse and misuse while balancing patient access to critical care.”

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the person holding a bunch of cash is a young black man is good enough for civil forfeiture ?

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

DEA to traveler: Thanks, I’ll take that cash

http://www.abqjournal.com/580107/news/dea-agents-seize-16000-from-aspiring-music-video-producer.html

But it’s too late for that now. All the money – $16,000 in cash – that Joseph Rivers said he had saved and relatives had given him to launch his dream in Hollywood is gone, seized during his trip out West not by thieves but by Drug Enforcement Administration agents during a stop at the Amtrak train station in Albuquerque.

An incident some might argue is still theft, just with the government’s blessing.

Rivers, 22, wasn’t detained and has not been charged with any crime since his money was taken last month.

That doesn’t matter. Under a federal law enforcement tool called civil asset forfeiture, he need never be arrested or convicted of a crime for the government to take away his cash, cars or property – and keep it.

Agencies like the DEA can confiscate money or property if they have a hunch, a suspicion, a notion that maybe, possibly, perhaps the items are connected with narcotics. Or something else illegal.

Or maybe the fact that the person holding a bunch of cash is a young black man is good enough.

“What this is, is having your money stolen by a federal agent acting under the color of law,” said Michael Pancer, a San Diego attorney who represents Rivers, an aspiring music video producer. “It’s a national epidemic. If my office got four to five cases just recently, and I’m just one attorney, you know this is happening thousands of times.”

A Washington Post investigation last year found that local, state and federal agents nationwide have seized $2.5 billion in cash from almost 62,000 people since 2001 – without warrants or indictments. It’s unknown how many got their money back.

It happened, Rivers said, to him on April 15 as he was traveling on Amtrak from Dearborn, Mich., near his hometown of Romulus, Mich., to Los Angeles to fulfill his dream of making a music video. Rivers, in an email, said he had saved his money for years, and his mother and other relatives scraped together the rest of the $16,000.

Rivers said he carried his savings in cash because he has had problems in the past with taking out large sums of money from out-of-state banks.

A DEA agent boarded the train at the Albuquerque Amtrak station and began asking various passengers, including Rivers, where they were going and why. When Rivers replied that he was headed to LA to make a music video, the agent asked to search his bags. Rivers complied.

Rivers was the only passenger singled out for a search by DEA agents – and the only black person on his portion of the train, Pancer said.

In one of the bags, the agent found the cash, still in the Michigan bank envelope.

“I even allowed him to call my mother, a military veteran and (hospital) coordinator, to corroborate my story,” Rivers said. “Even with all of this, the officers decided to take my money because he stated that he believed that the money was involved in some type of narcotic activity.”

Rivers was left penniless, his dream deferred.

“These officers took everything that I had worked so hard to save and even money that was given to me by family that believed in me,” Rivers said in his email. “I told (the DEA agents) I had no money and no means to survive in Los Angeles if they took my money. They informed me that it was my responsibility to figure out how I was going to do that.”

Other travelers had witnessed what happened. One of them, a New Mexico man who has been to the land of the traveller. I’ve written about before but who asked that I not mention his name, provided a way for Rivers to get home, contacted attorneys – and me.

“He was literally like my guardian angel that came out of nowhere,” Rivers said.

Sean Waite, the agent in charge for the DEA in Albuquerque, said he could not comment on the Rivers case because it is ongoing. He disputed allegations that Rivers was targeted because of his race.

Waite said that in general DEA agents look for “indicators” such as whether the person bought an expensive one-way ticket with cash, if the person is traveling from or to a city known as a hot spot for drug activity, if the person’s story has inconsistencies or if the large sums of money found could have been transported by more conventional means.

“We don’t have to prove that the person is guilty,” Waite said. “It’s that the money is presumed to be guilty.”

DEA agents may choose to ask the person whether his or her possessions can be searched in what is called a “consensual encounter.” If the subject refuses, the bags – but not the person – can be held until a search warrant is obtained, he said.

Waite said that he could not provide exact figures on how often seizures occur in Albuquerque but that last week the DEA had five “consensual encounters” that resulted in seizures.

Whatever is seized is held during an internal administrative process (read: not public) while a case is made to connect the property to narcotics. Subjects can file a claim to have the items returned – and then they wait, sometimes forever.

While travelers like Rivers still have to worry about DEA agents, state and local law enforcement in New Mexico no longer has these virtually unlimited seizure powers. Five days before Rivers’ encounter in Albuquerque, Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law a bill that bars state and local law enforcement from seizing money or property under civil asset forfeiture. The law takes effect in July.

But the new state law won’t supersede the federal law, meaning federal agencies such as the DEA are still free to take your cash on arguably the flimsiest of legal grounds.

Meanwhile, Rivers is back in Michigan, dreaming, praying.

“He’s handed this over to God,” his attorney said.

Which seems infinitely safer than handing over anything further to government agents.

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CVS and other Major Retailers found to have expired baby food on shelves

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

2 Investigates: Law prohibiting expired baby food sale not being enforced

http://wn.ktvu.com/story/28988236/law-prohibiting-sale-of-expired-baby-food-not-being-enforced-in-bay-area

California has a law against selling expired baby food, but during a recent investigative report, KTVU found out that law is rarely enforced.

After going into Bay Area stores from four major chains in seven cities and checking the shelves, KTVU found expired baby formula in 7 out of 10 of those stores.

State Senator Dr. Richard Pan, who is also a pediatrician, said that is cause for concern.

“We want to be sure the formula is at its full potency,” explains Pan. “And in addition, we want to make sure it isn’t spoiled because it’s very old, because as the food breaks down or rots, it could make babies sick.” While taking your baby in a car make sure you have the Baby Coats to make sure they are safe and comfortable.

The issue has attracted Sacramento’s attention before. In 2009, then Attorney General Jerry Brown sued CVS over the issue.

In 2011 when he was in the Assembly, Dr. Pan sponsored a bill that allows local health departments to fine stores if they have expired formula on the shelves. The law went into effect in 2012.

KTVU wanted to know if anyone was checking to see if anything has changed. Senator Pan admitted he had had not.

“We have not been specifically tracking the fines, because it’s each health department. However, now there is this mechanism,” said Pan.

KTVU checked with the Department of Public Health. Officials said there have been no fines levied since 2011 and no complaints registered about expired formula.

KTVU also checked with San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara and Contra Costa Counties and they also said they have not levied fines and have had few complaints.

So why was it so easy to find expired formula? There could be a couple of reasons.

Parents KTVU talked to say even if they found the formula, they probably wouldn’t have reported it. And health departments also said they don’t track how often they find it.

“If there is a specific issue, we may go out there. We may go out to visit them,” explained Don Atkinson-Adams, the Acting Chief of Environmental Protection for Alameda County, “We have to prioritize where we put our time.”

There is also the number of inspectors available to consider. In San Francisco there are 16 health inspectors covering approximately 6,500 food facilities.

In an email to KTVU, spokesperson for the San Francisco Department of Public Health Nancy Sarieh said: “We are grossly understaffed. We cannot quantify the number of expired baby food violations because we do not have a specific code number on our inspection reports for it, but I can tell you that our inspectors are well aware of this law and they make it a part of their normal inspections to check baby food item expiration dates.”

KTVU contacted Target, CVS and Lucky Supermarkets about the expired formula we found on their shelves.

CVS and Lucky both issued statements regarding the expired baby food.

“The health and safety of our customers is always our highest priority. Lucky Supermarkets has strict policies for product handling and rotation to ensure that all perishable foods are safe for consumption. We regularly scrutinize our handling procedures and audit our shelves for out of code product. We have taken this opportunity to remind our store teams to use extra diligence with product nearing expiration,” read the statement from SaveMart/Lucky Executive Director of Communications & Public Affairs Stacia Hill Levenfeld.

“CVS/pharmacy has a clear product removal policy in place at all of its stores to help ensure that items are removed from store shelves before they reach their expiration dates. Any unintentional deviations from this policy that are brought to the company’s attention are quickly rectified for customers,” CVS Director of Public Relations Mike Deangelis said in a statement.

The statement went on to read: “Our agreement with the state of California further strengthened our product removal and monitoring practices with additional training for retail employees and managers, in-store notices reminding customers to check expiration dates and offering discount coupons to customers who notify store personnel if they discover certain expired products. We will follow up with our Bay Area stores to ensure that our product removal procedures are being properly followed.”

Deangelis also went on to say that the stores “register system prompts our cashiers to enter the sell-by date for certain items including infant formula, and our system blocks the sale if the item is outdated.”

Health officials we talked to say they are doing the best they can. Senator Pan says he’s done what can do to help fight the problem.

At the end of day parents we talked to say while its frustration consumers need to be more vigilant.

“I’ll probably look at it more now,” said Amy Barnes of Benicia.

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Indiana is again in FIRST PLACE :-)

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

Rxtothehead
Pharmacy Robberies on the Rise, DEA Data Suggests

http://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/Pharmacy-Robberies-on-the-Rise-DEA-Data-Suggests

Preliminary 2015 data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reveals pharmacy robbers have hit Indiana the hardest.

Pharmacies in the Hoosier State reported 34 robberies between January 1, 2015, and March 31, 2015, with California (16), Wisconsin (13), North Carolina (12) and South Carolina (10) following in tow. Nationally, 203 pharmacy robberies occurred in the first 3 months of the year.

If Indiana’s pharmacy robberies continue at the same pace for the rest of 2015, the state may reach a new record, surpassing California’s 94 pharmacy robberies in 2014.

Pharmacists should be aware that pharmacy robberies are on the rise. There were 829 total pharmacy robberies in 2014, with California leading the pack. That’s a 16% increase from the 713 total pharmacy robberies in 2013, the majority of which took place in Arizona.

California saw a 56% jump in pharmacy robberies between 2013 and 2014. Considering population differences between Indiana and California, however, the Hoosier State may be the worst for pharmacy robberies, according to Ken Fagerman, RPh, MM, author of Staring Down the Barrel: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Diversion and Coping with Robbery, who spoke with Pharmacy Times in an exclusive interview.

Fagerman developed a Pharmacy Crime Watch (PCW) in South Bend, Indiana, and worked collaboratively with local police to curtail pharmacy robberies in the community. While writing his book in 2012, Indiana once again had the most pharmacy robberies in the country, but South Bend reported none for the year—a success he credits to the PCW and police help.

Addressing Indiana’s pharmacy robbery problem, the DEA released a report in 2012 with prevention tactics and ways to help police solve robbery cases. The report noted 69% of pharmacy robberies are solved, while 23% remain unsolved, and 8% have a suspect but go unsolved.

The typical pharmacy robber is often a white male in his 20s or 30s who wears a hat, sunglasses, or some other material that covers his face. According to the DEA, the most common medications pharmacy robbers seek are opiates and benzodiazepines, oxymorphone, oxycodone, methadone, Percocet, Xanax, and Valium.

The majority of robbery cases involve a note given to pharmacy staff, and they often take place in less than 1 minute.

“The problem in Indiana is that these criminals can rob a pharmacy faster than you can take money out of an ATM,” Fagerman told Pharmacy Times.

While Fagerman agreed with the DEA that pharmacists should comply with a robber’s demands, especially since resistance “almost always ends badly,” he said some pharmacies’ policies make it too easy for criminals to rob them. Stores may be underprotected security-wise, and pharmacists may not have a plan in place for what to do in the event of a robbery. Large chains in particular seem to view robberies as only a minor business expense and almost a routine incident, Fagerman said.

“This ‘give them the drugs, get back to work’ attitude [contributes] to the ongoing problem in Indiana,” he said.

Fagerman described 1 pharmacy robbery in which a customer was waiting for her prescription to be filled and she saw what she thought was a courier waiting at the counter. The pharmacy staff handed over a sack, and a little while later, the police showed up. The customer had no idea the pharmacy had just been robbed.

This story contrasts greatly with another case where a pharmacist announced over the PA system, “Robbery in progress,” which led customers in the store to follow the thief out the door. Two customers jumped into the cars and followed the thief for a short distance to get information about his car and direction.  

In another robbery, a pharmacist bluffed a thief by saying he was going to push a duress button, which caused the criminal to flee.

In addition to having a duress button, the DEA advises pharmacists to keep a few things in mind when confronted with a robber. The staff should observe the robber’s physical features, including race, height, weight, hair color, facial hair, piercings, and other identifying characteristics, such as whether he or she was left-handed.

After the robbery takes place, pharmacists should call the police, secure the demand note and any other items left behind by the robber, and avoid touching anything the robber may have put his or her fingerprints on.

One feature that pharmacies can install to help in a robbery situation is a height marker at the doors and back of the pharmacy to help track the robber’s height. In addition, cameras mounted at eye level instead of from above can help provide a more direct photo of the robber. Pharmacies may want to consider installing newer cameras, which offer clearer images than older cameras.  
Another preventive move is to implement a store policy that prohibits hats, sunglasses, and hoods, and to have cashiers or security guards help enforce it.

Ultimately, Fagerman said, employers need to ensure pharmacists and their stores are prepared for robberies.

“Responsibility lies primarily with the employer—ensuring that they have a robust robbery program and that they have security elements in place that are warranted by the area and the number of incidents they have had,” he told Pharmacy Times.

Pharmacies may want to limit their stock, if possible, and invite police to do a security assessment. Fagerman said instituting a PCW, working collaboratively with the police, and communicating with other pharmacists can help curb the pharmacy robbery problem.

“Pharmacists need to be part of the plan,” Fagerman said. “You can make a difference.”

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CVS ARBITRATION OF WORKPLACE AGREEMENT can be rescinded by employees ?

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

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According to this that showed up in my inbox …. those CVS employees that signed the ARBITRATION OF WORKPLACE AGREEMENT with CVS… you can rescind your agreeing to it.

Too many employees lining up to sue CVS ? updated 10/11/2014

 

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HPD: Pharmacy tech shot during robbery in SW Houston

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Pharmaciststeve

guntohead

HPD: Pharmacy tech shot during robbery in SW Houston

http://www.khou.com/story/news/crime/2015/05/05/hpd-pharmacist-shot-during-armed-robbery-in-sw-houston/26930883/

HOUSTON – Houston police are investigating an armed robbery where a pharmacy tech was shot Tuesday in Southwest Houston.

It happened at 12:45 p.m. at the Artemis Pharmacy located in the 9600 block of Court Glenn.

When two women went on a smoke break, the armed robbers forced them back inside and to the back of the store.

That’s where they shot the victim in the torso and face.

She was rushed to Ben Taub Hospital in unknown condition.

She was able to talk with police at the hospital, according to HPD.

Investigators said two suspects stole boxes of Xanax, cash, a weapon and employees’ purses.

The suspects got away.

Blanca Carillo, who works at the daycare next door, told KHOU 11 she called 9-1-1 after an employee ran over hysterical and crying asking for help.

“We went to check on her, and she was laying on the floor, the other lady was laying on the floor,” said Carillo.

Carillo said it was a scary scene to witness.

“Just told my owner to lock the doors because we had a lot of kids here,” she said.

Carillo says neither she nor the kids heard or saw the shooting. HPD supervisors on scene say there is a security camera at the front of the pharmacy and inside. Police are currently reviewing them and say they will release the footage once they’re done to get the public’s help on catching these two men.

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