Drug Reps and samples

oldnurse · Aug 25, 2000

Originally posted by Jeansky:
How do you handle drug reps coming into the office to give samples? Some days we are so over run with reps it really gets us off schedule. Do you have a limit as to how many you see a day? Or how long they stay?Sample drugs are important to our patients due to fixed incomes and no ins coverage.So we are looking how to tactfully see Reps but also allow our office to flow better. HELP!

I now work at a Mental Health Clinic. We use a tremdous amt. of samples plus vouchers/coupons for various meds. If we have time-we listen to the "new stuff" the reps have and get eucational material and find a doctor to sign for the samples' ect.and lock them up. We NEVER allow the reps into the sample closet-just our policy. If we are really busy we ask them to leave as much as they are able and ask them to stay with the Dr.'s secretary to get the 'form' signed. We (three R.N.) work well together, one of us always make a bit of time -like you we really depend on the generosity of the Pharm. Reps.

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Paula

Jeanbean · Oct 4, 2000

The office I used to work in would let one rep in the back office at a time. If another showed up they had to wait in the waiting room (the receptionist controlled the flow). There was an MA assigned to accept samples, talk with reps and contact them when sample supply was low. They were strongly encouraged to make an appt when docs were in to sign and listen to info, and if they brought lunch they knew they would have a captive audience guaranteed!

rcatron · Oct 8, 2000

I am replying to the posting concerning Drug Reps in the office. Hello Fellow Office Nurses:

In response to the question regarding Drug Reps the way we have dealt with this problem in our office is if the Rep routinely calls on our office they are assigned a specific cabinet in our "sample room" when they come in they don't have to wait to speak to one of the nurses they go check their sample stock, replace whatever needs replacing leaves new samples and any literature they want in the mail box on the front of their cabinet door so all we have to do is have one of our physicians sign the reps inventory form. This has cut out a lot of wasted time and irritation with the Rep standing around in the hallway hoping to catch the physician between patients. The Reps seem to really like it they say it shows we respect their time by not making them wait and it doesn't tie up the Physician. If there is a new product they want to discuss with the doc they make a point of coming at the end of the scheduled appointment or before appt. time begin.

Hope this helps.

RCatron