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snowflakes
Newbie
Reged: 09/24/03
Posts: 39
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From the Staff of Woody Pharmacy,
We believe it to be essential, during the period of legal recourse, that all involved are acutely aware of the negative effects on the patient base Woody Pharmacy serves. We can ill afford to lose sight of patient rights and the need to assist the physician in relieving the patients pain and suffering.
It appears that in todays society, the unfortunate patient left with medicating pain is labeled Rush Limbaugh or Drug Addict, much like the attorney whose specialty is accident litigation being labeled Ambulance Chaser. Because of changing demographics and value systems, we are constantly reminded of both licit and illicit drug use at all levels of health care. The contemporary approach to addressing opioid drug use rejects the old established belief that All pain drug patients are addicts, to addressing the Most effective ways to serve the patient in pain. Pain is one of the most common reasons people consult a physician, yet frequently is inadequately assessed and untreated.
Patients and their loved one should never allow pain to continue amid concerns about being a complainer, medication related side effects, fear of addiction or loss of control as a result of using pain medication. Chronic pain afflicts approximately 10-20% of the adult population. Approximately half of these people experience pain, which is inadequately treated. Pain control is essential because even when the underlying disease is stable, uncontrolled pain prevents patients from working productively and enjoying roles in the family and society.
Marcia Angell, MD in the New England Journal of Medicine published in 1982, described the concept called Quality of Mercy. She said, Pain is soul destroying. No patient should have to endure intense pain unnecessarily. The Quality of Mercy is essential to the practice of medicine; here of all places it should not be strained.
We contend that medicine in North Carolina is not alone in this effort. Included in this healthcare partnership to provide Quality of Mercy services is Woody Pharmacy.
There is existing evidence for the efficacy of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain. We support the fact that opioids should be considered when pain is moderate to severe, and unresponsive to non-opioid analgesics and adjuvant. Opioids are an essential tool in the overall treatment and management of chronic pain. Many patients have persistent or daily pain. It is often important to use opioids on a regular schedule rather than as needed.
Our call to action includes our skillful management of pain itself. Outcomes in medical and pharmacy practice are far superior when pain is adequately managed, and ethically, it is the right thing to do. Our greatest legacy will be determined by how each of us handles pain and suffering in the lives entrusted to our care. It is to this end that Woody Pharmacy serves its patients and is willing to work with the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy and other licensing and regulating state agencies to develop guidelines for operating telemedicine pharmacy services that are sensitive to Quality of Mercy issues for each and every patient served.
Since January 13th, Woody Pharmacy has been forced to transfer over 2000 prescriptions to unfamiliar pharmacies. We are hoping to have these patients return to us in the near future.
This attack on our patient-base has come with considerable financial cost to Woody Pharmacy and the costs of pain relief to our patients, to which we apologize. We have attempted to post updates when meaningful information was available. When state beauracracy and attorneys attempt to work out differences, the gathering of accurate and timely information can at best be maddening.
From all of us at Woody Pharmacy, we very much appreciate your patience, kind and supportive comments, and most of all, your loyalty during this difficult time. We anticipate returning to serving your prescription needs very soon.
Sincerely,
The Staff of Woody Pharmacy
~Note: www.21stmeds.com will not allow us to continue to post on their site because we are a pharmacy. If any of you monitor their boards or any other boards, please feel free to copy and paste any posts made by Woody Pharmacy. We are attempting to reach as many patients as we can and are not attempting to simply advertise our services.
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zengaboyFB
Newbie
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29
Loc: NYC, LA, Bucks Co. PA
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Dear Staff at Woody pharmacy,
Thank you for your support, compassion and co-operation, and for keeping us informed in the most timely and appropriate manner. Other than our understanding, support and keeping our fellows informed of the situation is there anything specific we can do? Write letters, make a phone call etc? Looking forward to a contuied relationship, Z.
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snowflakes
Newbie
Reged: 09/24/03
Posts: 39
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Hello,
Please forward any letters to us here at Woody Pharmcacy concerning your feelings on this matter. Due to ongoing discussion with the NCBOP, we would not like to overload them with correspondence, however, we are using snail mail and email sent to us with patient concerns and comments for our case. It puts a very human face on the whole issue, as the patient and their needs should be the focal point for this matter. Our address is 478-A Williamson Rd. Mooresville, NC 28117 and our phone number is 704-799-6697.
Thank you,
Woody Pharmacy
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zoecece
Board Addict
Reged: 05/03/02
Posts: 392
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I am fully aware that many people suffered because of this fiasco, but the one thing that has always struck me as different about Bill (who I've spoken with at woody's), is that he DOES care about his patients not suffering.
I used an OP (now defunct) that used woody's, and during my refill time period, some stuff happened with the prescribing DR, and his liscence was suspended. When I called for my refill, Bill came to the phone, informed me that there was a situation, but that he was going to see to it that my refills were issued, and that it wasn't fair to the patient that the DR didn't have his ducks in a row.
Again, I know people suffered, and I don't want to minimize this, but IMO these people care about more than the buck. Unfortunately, things didn't go perfectly smooth, and I don't blame people one bit for changing OP's because of it, but I hope that the positive and compassionate attitude of Woddy's staff will make it more of a business decision rather than a personal one.
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