Newest Aggravation
Here is the newest aggravation created by the drug companies.
Our practice found an internet company called Preferred Time that manages the scheduling of drug reps. We tell preferred time how many reps we want to see in a day and the times we want to see them, and they provide the scheduling free of charge. They also schedule the lunches and send emails out to all of the reps when there are cancellations.
They have two types of service for the drug reps. The free service allows the reps to sign up for either one visit or one lunch. As soon as that visit or lunch is completed, they can immediately schedule the next one. For a small fee, of less than 30 dollars/month, they can become a “pro” member. Being a “pro” member allows the reps to sign up for more than one visit and also allows them to access slots that get reserved when the schedule is nearly full.
Our office has typically scheduled 4 reps in the morning and 4 in the afternoon and 1 at lunch. For years, we have seen 9 reps a day, every day. It took a tremendous amount of staff time to schedule these visits and lunches and keep track of cancellations etc., all while trying to be fair to each of the reps. Some companies and reps did not always follow the rules and guidelines set making it unfair for others. This service levels that playing field as well.
Now there are at least 3 companies unwilling to allow their reps to use this service. They were told they cannot use a third party vendor to schedule appointments. Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Sanofi are companies so far unwilling to allow the reps to use this service that saves my office staff time and money. We have informed them they can either use the free service or we will not see their reps.
The drug companies fear losing some control and evidently do not like third parties interfering with their turf.
We’ll see what happens when their reps cannot come in the office after a few months.
Our practice found an internet company called Preferred Time that manages the scheduling of drug reps. We tell preferred time how many reps we want to see in a day and the times we want to see them, and they provide the scheduling free of charge. They also schedule the lunches and send emails out to all of the reps when there are cancellations.
They have two types of service for the drug reps. The free service allows the reps to sign up for either one visit or one lunch. As soon as that visit or lunch is completed, they can immediately schedule the next one. For a small fee, of less than 30 dollars/month, they can become a “pro” member. Being a “pro” member allows the reps to sign up for more than one visit and also allows them to access slots that get reserved when the schedule is nearly full.
Our office has typically scheduled 4 reps in the morning and 4 in the afternoon and 1 at lunch. For years, we have seen 9 reps a day, every day. It took a tremendous amount of staff time to schedule these visits and lunches and keep track of cancellations etc., all while trying to be fair to each of the reps. Some companies and reps did not always follow the rules and guidelines set making it unfair for others. This service levels that playing field as well.
Now there are at least 3 companies unwilling to allow their reps to use this service. They were told they cannot use a third party vendor to schedule appointments. Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Sanofi are companies so far unwilling to allow the reps to use this service that saves my office staff time and money. We have informed them they can either use the free service or we will not see their reps.
The drug companies fear losing some control and evidently do not like third parties interfering with their turf.
We’ll see what happens when their reps cannot come in the office after a few months.
Forecast for FLOYDS KNOBS, IN (on a scale of 1-12):
Today's allergy levels:
Wednesday - 9.7/High
Today's predominant pollen:
Oak, Mulberry and Grass.
posted by Anonymous at 6:23 AM
8 Comments:
HB,
Would you mind giving us a description of a typical visit by a drug rep? 9 reps a day? 40+ per week? I am guessing that some of the bigger drug companies must have several different reps presenting different products.
I know that we will get an honest opinion from you on this last question. Are the majority of the visits by these reps beneficial to increasing your medical knowledge?
Thanks
the average non-lunch visit is a very short reminder to use a certain drug or drugs they sell. They need to get our signature in order to leave samples and also to verify to the company they actually made the visit. The Reps are usually in the office about 45 minutes trying to see, briefly talk with and get signatures from the 5 doctors in our office.
The actual information they present is rarely anything new or rarely something we don't know.
Some of the bigger companies may have 8 reps pushing certain drugs and we therefore may see reps 2-3 times a week from certain companies.
Thanks.
I would assume that your office's experience would be fairly typical. Why do physicians allow so much time to be taken up by drug reps? That is something like 2-4 hrs per week. The extra "goodies" that they offer, beyond samples, must be pretty nice.
The only extra "goodies" allowed any more is dinners out to restaraunts. With the dinners comes a speaker and we can no longer bring our spouses.
It is no longer worth spending time away from family to hear the same thing about the same drugs. The only benefit is they bring us samples of drugs which does help our patients.
The abuses that occured in the past have not been around for about 5 plus years. No more trips, golf outings, gifts etc.
Interesting that whenever I see "drug reps" visit a doctor's office, they all seem to be female, young and look like they were hired directly out of a modeling agency. Could that have something to do with the willingness to see 9 of them face-to-face each day???
HB,
You need to be more forceful with your drug reps. I think that you are missing out on some goodies.
In my business we distribute some "drugs" for animals. We have reps call on us. Many of these companies have both human and animal divisions. One our reps spent a couple days with a counterpart on the human side of the their company. His counterpart's "entertainment" budget was way more than his total SALES goal for the year. His counterpart's territory basically covered one doctors building in Louisville. My reps's territory is 2 states.
I know R & D is extremely expensive for drug companies but there are fortunes spent outside of that.
Please don't take my previous questions wrong. I do not have a problem with them buying your lunch and such. Was most curious if there was really any knowledge benefit to you besides the samples.
Thanks.
What would you figure the cost is to the drug companies to furnish lunch every day to every employee of almost every medical practice in the country?
Reps do bring some current facts and up to date info. It is always biased to support their claims and therefore has to be viewed as such.
There is a tremendous amount of money spent on these activities. But to drug companies, our pens can make or break them. It is the most important tool we have from their standpoint
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