RxMike

October 26, 2010 marks the 20th annual National Pharmacy Technician Day, and there is only one thing I’d like to say—two words pharmacy technicians don’t hear often enough—THANK YOU!

• Thank you for working on the front lines of pharmacy.
• Thank you for dealing with the insurance companies.
• Thank you for your patience and compassion.
• Thank you for learning to read doctors’ handwriting.
• Thank you for being committed.
• Thank you for dealing with rude patients.
• Thank you for keeping the pharmacy stocked.
• Thank you for making the pharmacy run smoothly.
• Thank you for your professionalism.
• Thank you for smiling…despite being overworked and underpaid.
• Thank you for…Helping America Feel Better.

To learn more about National Pharmacy Technician Day or for resources and ideas on how to celebrate, visit www.pharmacytechnician.org/2010

Let’s keep this list going…
Leave a reply with other Thank You statements.

This Monday marked the beginning of the Discovery Channel’s famous Shark Week, and if you are just as fascinated by sharks as I am, then you have been looking forward to it all year. Sharks have been a source of inspiration, fascination and fear in mankind for centuries. There are probably as many ancient legends and myths surrounding sharks as there are books and movies in today’s popular culture. Some of these myths still persist today. Cultures portray sharks as vicious man-eaters, some revered sharks as gods and spirits to be worshipped and respected, and some myths attest to the health benefits of sharks.

Here is a list of the top four myths surrounding the health and medical benefits of sharks and the facts behind the myths that pharmacy technicians can share with their friends, family, co-workers and fellow shark enthusiasts.

1. Shark cartilage helps cure cancer: This is one of the most recent myths about the health benefits of sharks, and it started with the 1992 publication of the book Sharks Don’t Get Cancer by I. William Lane. According to the book, sharks have powerful immune systems that protect them from cancer, viruses and many other kinds of human diseases. Humans can take a piece of that immune system by taking shark cartilage. The cartilage is often extracted from the heads and fins of sharks and sold as a dietary supplement under the names Carticin, Cartilade™, BeneFin™, Neovastat (AE-941). Researchers are still looking into the possible health benefits, if any, of shark cartilage, but little to no evidence exists that shark cartilage has any effect on cancer. Also, modern studies have proven that sharks actually do get cancer like everyone else.




2. Shark fin soup increases virility and is full of nutrition: Shark fin soup is a dish served in Asian countries, but no scientific studies have proven that it has any significant health benefits.  In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued advisories for consumers to avoid eating shark due to the fact that it can contain high levels of mercury.




3. Shark liver oil will protect against any disease: Shark liver oil has been used for centuries as a folk remedy to treat wounds. In fact, some formulations of Preparation H contain shark liver oil. Some proponents claim that shark liver oil is rich in vitamins, omega fatty acids and alkylglycerols (all of which are believed to help boost the immune system) and will protect against any disease from the common cold to Alzheimer’s disease to cancer. While shark liver oil does have some common uses,  researchers have yet to find a definitive link between shark liver oil and increased immune function.




4. Capsaicin works as a shark repellant: As many pharmacy technicians know, capsaicin is often used in topical creams to relieve arthritis and other pains, but it is also the chemical that gives chili peppers their spice. For this reason, capsaicin was featured on a special Shark Week edition of Mythbusters. The myth was that Kuna people of Panama used the capsaicin that gives chili peppers their spice as a shark repellant. The Mythbusters put the myth to the test by filling balloons with a special mix of water and habanero pepper juice and attaching the balloons to a bait box inside a shark swimming pool. Unfortunately, the capsaicin did nothing to make the bait any less desirable to the sharks.

Have you heard a myth about the health benefits of sharks or other animals? Share some of the most interesting myths you’ve heard about animals and medicine with NPTA on Facebook, Twitter or the comments section of this blog!

A job. A career. A profession. What is it, exactly, that you consider the role of a pharmacy technician to be? Within certain circles, this question has been the source for heated debates.  (Seriously?!) This question does, however, have implications on the perception and recognition of pharmacy technicians by both patients and pharmacists.

A job is defined as “a regular activity performed in exchange for payment, especially as one’s trade, occupation, or profession.”

A career is defined as “a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling.”

A profession is defined as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and preparation.”

In my opinion, for some, being a pharmacy technician is simply a job. For many others, it’s a career and it’s a profession. It all depends upon what an individual puts into it and, likewise, expects to get out of it. The individual  working as a pharmacy technician just while finishing college likely doesn’t view himself as a professional, whereas the mother of two who has been working as a pharmacy technician for 15 years probably does consider this her profession. This does not make one group “right” or “better than” another group.

For me personally, being a pharmacy technician is my profession and I’m proud to declare it as such.  I presume the same is true for the majority of our readers and members. However you choose to answer the question for yourself, remember to always demonstrate professionalism to your patients, your pharmacists and your co-workers.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

Take our quick poll and voice your opinion as to whether you view pharmacy technician as a job, a career or a profession:

I realize that this post is rather lengthy, but trust me – it’s worth the read.
Here is the story of how your’s truly – RxMike – became The Unofficial Houston Rodeo Clown:

Monday Afternoon (10-19-2009)
While driving home from work yesterday I heard a radio commercial exclaiming that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo would begin selling tickets for two packages of shows beginning Tuesday morning at 8:30 am. The first package included performances by the Jonas Brothers and Tim McGraw; the second package showcased Brad Paisley and Brooks & “Done.”

If you’re not from Houston, let me explain Rodeo Houston: The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is big….real big…like as big as Texas big. Every March, Houston dedicates three weeks to celebrating all things rodeo (bull riding, horses, chuck wagons, cowboy hats), and a concert featuring mega-stars is incorporated into each rodeo. Tens of thousands attend daily and proceeds go to provide educational scholarships to local kids. Since 1957, over $130 million has been given in scholarships – which is pretty awesome!

Now although I am not personally fan of The Jonas Brothers…I have an 11-year old and 14-year old niece who have drank a lot of the Jonas brand Kool-Aid. So as any good Uncle would do, I decided that it would be a great treat to purchase tickets and surprise them with a chance to see their version of the Beatles LIVE!

To try and outsmart all of the other tween parents I called the Conceriege Service that comes complimentary with my American Express Platinum card – since one of the perks that they market is the ability to acquire performance tickets prior to general release dates.

The young man I spoke with at AMEX was incredibly polite, but explained that the Houston Rodeo does not permit early ticket purchases. He quickly offered to have a colleague purchase my tickets on Tuesday morning at precisely 8:30 am. I was impressed, so I said sure…”but you’ve got to make sure that it’s done right at 8:30 am because the good seats will sell out in minutes!”

I explained that I wanted 4 seats…best seating available…after all, nothing is too good for my niece, right?

He explained that he could not give me a specific price for the seats, but stated that the front row seats were $300 and the next best seating was $75. Knowing that the $300 seats would already have been sold to the sponsors, I agreed, but reiterated the importance of doing this right on time.

He then read some terms and conditions: “you are giving us authority to charge your card…blah, blah, blah….non-refundable…blah, blah, blah…I said “Sure, that’s fine, but again – please make sure someone does this at exactly 8:30 am.”

Tuesday Morning (10-20-2009)
I woke up early with a splitting headache, which I hardly ever get. After enjoying some coffee and a walk with K9Bella, I started thinking about the Rodeo tickets…doubting that a big company like American Express would actually take care of the request right at 8:30 am, as promised.

At around 8:20 am I went into my home office and decided to pull up the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo website – just to check it out. I was also considering whether I should order some tickets “just to be safe.”

While looking around the website, I didn’t see anything about ordering tickets for those two shows, so I kept looking around. I saw a link for Season Ticket Information so I thought I would take a look at what the full lineup was set to be. (Yes, they do offer season tickets for the Houston Rodeo…I told you it was big down here) Interestingly, when I clicked on the link – there was a “Buy Now” link to order Mini Season Ticket packages. So I clicked it just to see if those “best seats” ($300) were still available – and hoping/expecting not….but they were, so I quickly backed out and then I noticed a press release stating that the Mini Season tickets were going to be available for purchase starting at 8:30 am on Tuesday, October 20.

It was 8:26 am.

Then I noticed that there were two (2) Mini Season Ticket packages – one included performances by the Jonas Brothers and Tim McGraw (all other performances still to be announced) and  the second package showcased Brad Paisley and Brooks & “Done” (again with all other performances still to be announced).

It was 8:27 am.

Suddenly, it hit me. Like a ton of bricks. I ran through the house looking for my phone and then back through the house looking for my wallet.

I grabbed my AMEX card and threw it over to find the number to the concierge service on the back…I started dialing…then I had to press “1″ for this…and “2″ for that…meanwhile I am having a panic attack!

A lady answered and asked for my account number, which I mumbled through to quickly tell her that I had an emergency…that I needed to recall the request to purchase tickets I’d made the day before…that was likely occurring as we spoke.

She put me on hold.

After four or five minutes (which felt like an entire season of 24), she returned to the phone to explain that she had run over to her colleague that had my account/request pulled up and was just about to hit submit on my order. She stopped him just in time.

Then I explained that based on the radio commercial I had heard, I was under the assumption that I had ordered 4 tickets to the two (2) specific shows mentioned. I was completely unaware that it was a Mini Season Ticket package which included NINE shows.

The “best seats” for the “package” are priced at $6,000….Six Thousand Dollars…and they were still available….understandably!

I had requested 4 tickets, which would have cost me $24,000….Twenty-Four Thousand Dollars…OMG!!!!! I literally came within 45 seconds of having $24,000 worth of tickets to smell horse shit and listen to the freaking Jonas Brothers!!!

At that moment, I felt the amazing sensation of tremendous relief and embarrassment simultaneously…what I assume a Rodeo Clown must feel like after being chased by a bull and just barely surviving. Therefore, I am the Unofficial Houston Rodeo Clown, sans a red rubber nose.

My soldiers guardian angels put in a full day’s work before most even get out of bed.

The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is considering sponsoring the first-ever “Pharmacy Technician Week” in October 2009. What do you think?

In the past, pharmacy technicians have been recognized on National Pharmacy Technician Day (the 3rd Tuesday of each October), however this originated as a part of National Pharmacy Week. Since the APhA launched October as American Pharmacy Month a few years ago, we are considering making the shift to recognize technicians for an entire week. This is the approach that ASHP takes with Health-System Pharmacy Week.

Each day of the week could be designated to recognize pharmacy technicians working in various practice settings, ie Retail Pharmacy Technician Day, Health-System Pharmacy Technician Day, Pharmacy Technician Educators Day, etc.

We want your thoughts, feedback & suggestions.

Simply put, I am a reading geek. My approach to reading may be uncommon, but normally I read 4-6 books at a time, almost all being non-fiction. I will read a chapter from one book, then move on to another book and so on. I don’t know, maybe I have ADD!

My point is, however, that I love reading and I also love to give away books that I really like and make recommendations to others. In fact, I even started publishing “What I’m Reading Now” as part of my Life Focus article that is published in Today’s Technician – the magazine for pharmacy technicians – years ago.

Now that I have started www.rxmike.com – the official blog of Mike Johnston, CPhT, I think it only makes sense to start a monthly RxMike Book Club. Here’s how it’s going to work: each month I will select a book that I find compelling, impactful, inspiring or interesting…provide a brief description…and then post a related question for your comments. One comment will be selected randomly to receive a FREE copy of that month’s book. Pretty simple.

For my first Book Club selection, I’ve chosen the first book that I read that made a major impact on me…Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, PhD. The book teaches how to turn fear into personal power and action…an important lesson for us all.

When we see the world and live our life with a positive mental attitude, it becomes possible for us to deal with life in a much more efficient manner. We become responsible people. The author says that responsibility is a must. If we are to come up in life, then we have to stop blaming other people. - from www.reviewstream.com

TO ENTER TO WIN A FREE COPY of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway – LEAVE A COMMENT:
—– What is something that you fear and want to overcome?

The winner will be selected randomly on Friday, June 5th at 4:00 PM (CDT).
Follow me on twitter for the announcement of the winner.

net·work·ing – the process or practice of building up or maitaining informal relationships, especially with people whose friendship could bring advantages such as job or business opportunities.

Sounds boring, I know, but the truth is that networking with colleagues is critical to success…and with the advent of online social media networks, it can be a lot of fun.

Here are three steps to get started. Continue reading Networking 101 for Pharmacy Technicians

So, I have had a lot of requests for the recipe for my vegetable soup…because it’s “M’m! M’m! Good! ” By the way, why did Campbell’s change their slogan to “Nourishing people’s lives everywhere, every day”…stick with your iconic status!

This soup is somehow hearty enough for the winter and yet light enough for the summer. Who knows, maybe this recipe will be added to the blog for soup and stew recipes…if so, I only hope they keep the name “RxMike’s Rustic Vegetable Soup.”

Here is the recipe… Continue reading RxMike’s Rustic Vegetable Soup

I am fascinated by sharks….all types of sharks…black tips, white tips, nurse sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads and especially the Great Whites. Since obtaining my certification in diving in 2004, I have had the joy of free diving with sharks in Hawaii, Australia, Mexico and Belize.

As many of you know, I also serve as the Publisher of Today’s Technician magazine (the first magazine ever developed specifically for pharmacy technicians… Continue reading Blending Two of My Passions: Publishing a Magazine + Sharks