Comments for Carilion Clinic News Blog

Comment on Carilion Clinic Reacts to Widespread H1N1 Flu in Virginia by Florida Pain Management

Florida Pain Management — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:01:21 +0000

I feel a lot of people need to read this, very good information on h1n1.Good comparison between the symptoms of adults and child.

Comment on Carilion Clinic Doctor Assists Search Teams in Arkansas by rchouston

rchouston — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:07:11 +0000

I think this is fantastic! This doctor must have alot of heart & soul to do this! WTG!

Comment on Carilion Clinic Implements New Policy to Improve Patient Care by pmvari

pmvari — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:17:36 +0000

We are finally at a place in time where breastfeeding is recognized indisputably as the infant feeding method that provides the foundation for a healthy life. Research has also shown that providing infant formula or even items with formula company logos to families can negatively impact breastfeeding success. Just as giving out free drug samples and having gifts that display drug company logo sends a message that improper influence may have been exerted to health care providers, so to, does giving out free formula and displaying items with formula company logos. Giving out free formula and displaying formula company logos not only goes against the new policy, but also sends a message from trusted health care providers of recommending an inferior product. I hope that the response to this email will be that the new policy applies to infant formula. Infants are our most vulnerable population of patients. As trusted health care providers, we need to especially care for and protect those that have no voice.

Comment on Carilion Clinic Implements New Policy to Improve Patient Care by Carilion Clinic

Carilion Clinic — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:54:23 +0000

Sorry to hear that you’ve been having problems. Please speak with your physician about this as soon as possible. We are asking pharmaceutical representatives to give our physicians vouchers that patients can use to obtain a free medication sample from a pharmacy. However, the pharmaceutical companies have never intended samples and vouchers to be used to assist patients who can’t afford their medication on a long term basis. The major pharmaceutical companies have programs that provide free or discounted brand-name medication to people who can’t afford it. Talk to the staff in your physician’s office about applying for a program that includes the medication you are using.

Comment on Carilion Clinic Implements New Policy to Improve Patient Care by Tammy

Tammy — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:34:09 +0000

I have been a patient of a participating carilion physicians for 20 years. About 2 years ago, I was put on medication for high blood pressure. I tried all of the generic or lower priced brands as I always ask for generic. Unfortunately, I kept a headache with all of these brands and my physician told me he thought it was a medication intolerence. Sure enough he gave me samples of a name brand medication and I have been on this medication since. When my husband lost his job of 21 years, there simply was not enough money to pay $50.00 per month for medicine so I stopped taking it. My blood pressure went crazy. My physicians has been giving me samples and I am very greatful, because this was the only way I could continue taking my meds. Now, I guess I will just have to do without them since there will be no more samples. I hope nothing happens to me without my meds. My children need me to be around for awhile yet.

Comment on Carilion Clinic Implements New Policy to Improve Patient Care by Carilion Clinic

Carilion Clinic — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:35:05 +0000

Hi Dingle,
Read about two-thirds into the post and you’ll see highlights of the policy listed.

Comment on Carilion Clinic Implements New Policy to Improve Patient Care by Carilion Clinic

Carilion Clinic — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:32:53 +0000

Thanks for your comments Gail, and I understand your concern. The issue is not just money, but safety. Distributing drugs from a sample closet is simply not the best and safest way to dispense medication. We understand that samples can sometimes be helpful for a patient to evaluate a medication, or to tide them over when they have financial difficulty. That is why we’re asking the pharmaceutical reps to provide us with vouchers that we can give to patients, allowing them to get free or discounted samples from a local pharmacy. That way the patient’s needs are met, the pharmaceutical rep’s needs are met, but in a safe way.

Comment on Carilion Clinic Implements New Policy to Improve Patient Care by Gail Tankersley

Gail Tankersley — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:27:25 +0000

I have been working as a nurse in physicians offices since 1995, and have always been thankful that I could supply patients with samples. I truthfully think removing samples from the offices is one of the worst ideas to come along. Patients often want to try a sample medication because of 1)seeing if it is something they can tolerate, 2) cost – often they are poor or inbetween paychecks, and barely have enough money for the physicain’s bill, and 3) May only need a few days worth until they can get their next prescription filled or are waiting for their mail order meds to arrive. I honestly don’t see how removing drug samples is something that they patients will see as “quality, effecient or effective” healthcare or not interfering with the care they receive from the physician. I can understand removing lunches and dinners, and honestly like the idea of seeing drug reps by appointment, but please, reconsider the samples. Don’t make the patients suffer, or the doctors be unable to try new medications. We live in a time that we need to help each other, that we need to relize that for some even $4 is a lot and that possibly someone will have to choose between milk and bread or the $4 medicine. Please reconsider this. Carilion is supposed to be about “patient first”….where has that gone?

Comment on Carilion Clinic Implements New Policy to Improve Patient Care by dingle40

dingle40 — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:44:13 +0000

What exactly is the aforementioned policy. This post does not give the details?

Comment on Morgan Dana Harrington Memorial Scholarship Established for VTC School of Medicine by Carilion Clinic

Carilion Clinic — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:38:23 +0000

Janet, thanks so much for your prayers and kind thoughts.