RxMike

Pharmacy Technician Day 2010

// October 1st, 2010 // 7 Comments » // Pharmacy Technician

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.

Sharks & Medicine – Two of My Favorite Topics

// August 3rd, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Pharmacy Technician, Scuba Diving, Sharks, Uncategorized

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!

Pharmacy Technician WEEK? What Do You Think?

// June 22nd, 2009 // 5 Comments » // Pharmacy General

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.

RxMike Book Club: Win Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways

// June 2nd, 2009 // 9 Comments » // RxMike Book Club

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.

Networking 101 for Pharmacy Technicians

// May 26th, 2009 // 5 Comments » // Pharmacy General, Pharmacy Technician

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. (more…)

RxMike’s Rustic Vegetable Soup

// May 20th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Organic Gardening, Recipes

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… (more…)

Techs Are The Best, a poem by Eileen Neumyer, CPhT

// April 15th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Pharmacy General

Today I connected with Eileen Neumyer, CPhT through Facebook, where she had posted a clever and creative poem about a day in the life of a pharmacy tech. Enjoy…
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Striving for Dignity, Self-Respect and Integrity in the Profession of Pharmacy

// April 12th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Pharmacy General

Have you heard about…The Pharmacy Alliance (TPA)…not if the chain pharmacy corporate offices have anything to do with it! TPA was established in 2008 and is focused on bringing back dignity, self-respect and integrity to pharmacy professionals, including pharmacy technicians (kudos).

The TPA website details their 13 guiding principles as being:
  (more…)

25 Random Things About RxMike

// February 3rd, 2009 // Comments Off // Commentary

Thought I would share a recent post I made on Facebook.

1. I do not drink anything with caffeine.
2. I have a weird fear of birds, dentists, grocery stores and dairy products.
3. I am a pescetarian (a vegetarian + fish)
4. I speak three languages (although not fluently)
5. My older sister broke my wrist once.
6. I finished high school a semester early.
7. I worked for Gallup (phone surveys) for 3 days.
8. I have gotten lost diving…more than twice.
9. I collect PEZ dispensers and coins.
10. The only time I ever had school detention was for a poorly planned practical joke.
11. I taught my niece to refer to Reba McEntire as “Aunt Reba” as a child.
12. I’ve traveled to approx. 30 countries across 5 continents.
13. I don’t have a favorite color – I’m partially color blind.
14. I’ve electricuted myself…more than once.
15. Three different people who don’t know one another have each told me that I remind them of Joel McHale from TalkSoup…and I don’t see any resemblance.
16. I am the author of 9 published books.
17. NYC feels like a 2nd home to me.
18. I have jumped off the tallest mountain peak in Europe, using only a zipline.
19. I am obsessed with sharks.
20. I learned how to drink scotch on an airplane (thanks wendy)
21. I started going bald in my early to mid twenties.
22. I can’t tolerate centralized heating.
23. I once had a pet lobster.
24. I think 24 is one of the best TV shows ever created.
25. I hate doing lists about random personal things.