Pharm Sales Reps? Where to find them?

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Hey Guys,

Just started working with a new FNP who is flabbergasted by our lack of visits from drug reps, etc. in our urgent care/primary care clinic. I have to agree. We've been open over a year and have 1 regular who doesn't really do that great of a job. The NP and I share the concern that being a rural clinic our pts won't have money to get started on meds until we can set them up on some type of assistance. Or even better- be aware of an assistance program for reduced meds offered through the Pharmaceutical company. If reps came by and talked to us about such situations and left starter pack medications or anything, I think we'd be heading in a right direction. Any ideas on where to find reps and let them know they have willing and interested audiences??

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use the pdr as a phone book; one section at the front has the drug companies listed, with professional services departments..... i used to write to them for free stuff (pens, notepads, etc)

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I set up and ran a Sample Medication and Patient Assistance Programs at two different Mental Health Clinics, in 1997 and 2001.

It seems to me that the different Drug Companies have an general 800 number on their packaging you can call and ask to speak with a Rep who covers your area. It's easier to work with a Drug Rep in obtaining sample meds, but Pt. assisted applications can be filled out by the Pt, you, and usually requires a Physician's order for the med. I believe this assistance needs to be updated every three months for most of the Patient assistance Programs.

In the meantime, here's a site to get you started:

www.patientassistance.com

Good luck to you, TheOracle.

Dave

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Check the regs. I think what they can and can't give you has been changed.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

While the regulations have changed (they cannot hand out promotional material any longer) they can still provide literature, education, product samples, and information about assistance programs/discount cards. Sometimes your local friendly pharmacist may know if a particular company has a discount/free card available. When I worked in a pediatric office I called the professional information on the websites. Also be aware if there are any formulary restrictions from the managed care & insurance plans that you accept. The local managed medicaid plans have drug preferences, but also have contacts at the particular manufacturers. For example we had an asthmatic child, when I called the asthma nurse education line to register the child for the program the nurse asked if the family was having difficulty obtaining the prescriptions. (Not all managed care medicaid plans had full pharmacy coverage at the time as the plans were in transition). She put us in contact with the local mfr rep who was able to get MDI spacers and peak flow meters in addition to patient education material and drug samples. (Certain medical tools like peak flow meters and MDI spacers, and medical education tools (charts, hand outs props, models, etc.) are permitted to be distributed by the drug reps they cannot distribute pens, pads, etc. Nearly every drug manufacturer has a website as do many drugs, with a separate "section" for medical professionals. Often the physician/prescribing authority (APN, PA-C, etc.) can obtain the free Rx trial, discount cards right from the website

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

So they can hand out drug samples but aren't allowed to give me a pen with the name of the drug on it? What a system!!

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So they can hand out drug samples but aren't allowed to give me a pen with the name of the drug on it? What a system!!

I guess they're putting it into all of those big-buck ads on TV to give the uninformed just enough info to tell their disinterested doc the "shopping list" they'd like filled w/rx's. :down:

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So they can hand out drug samples but aren't allowed to give me a pen with the name of the drug on it? What a system!!

Oh...and they (reps0 can still bring in nice lunches for the office staff...

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I would look at the $4 pharmacy programs offered by walmart, target, kmart, and even walgreens and try to use meds on that list as much as possible if cost is a concern. Also the old generic standby's are safer and side effects are known. The stores have web sites that give a list of drugs in that price range. Pharmacy reps are really sales people meant to encourage you to prescribe costly new meds and the patients end up paying a lot of money to be guinea pigs. Also many times the drug companies are aware of problems with the drugs and due their best to hide this fact and try to get doctors to prescribe the meds off label to make even more profit.

Save the brand name drugs for people who aren't responding to the older meds!

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