MN: Healthcare system purges drug company trinkets

flashl

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Sat Jan-19-08 01:26 PM
Original message

MN: Healthcare system purges drug company trinkets

MINNEAPOLIS—When a Duluth-based operator of hospitals and clinics purged the pens, notepads, coffee mugs and other promotional trinkets drug companies had given its doctors over the years, it took 20 shopping carts to haul the loot away.

The operator, SMDC Health System, intends to ship the 18,718 items to the west African nation of Cameroon.

The purge underscored SMDC's decision to join the growing movement to ban gifts to doctors from drug companies.

SMDC scoured its four hospitals and 17 clinics across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin for clipboards, clocks, mouse pads, stuffed animals and other items decorated with logos for such drugs as Nexium, Vytorin and Lipitor.

Trinkets, free samples, free food and drinks, free trips and other gifts have pervaded the medical profession, but observers say that's starting to change.

Oroville Mercury Register

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zanne

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Sat Jan-19-08 01:33 PM
Response to Original message

1. A notice on the wall in my doctor's waiting room says...

Edited on Sat Jan-19-08 01:33 PM by zanne

"Due to changes in policy, we will no longer be able to provide free drug samples". I wonder if that's why.

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jwirr

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Sat Jan-19-08 01:40 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. That is the one thing that I question. My doctor gives me free sample

whenever we are trying a new drug. I would assume that this is also a way for people without insurance to get med sometimes.

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zanne

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Sat Jan-19-08 02:28 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. He gave me meds when I fell into the "donut hole"....

I have Medicare Part D. I took the "best" plan that AARP had to offer. Nevertheless, by July I was in the dreaded donut hole and I was looking at six months of paying out of pocket. Between my doctor giving me samples and my pharmacy matching Wal-Mart prices, I got by. Now I'm okay until July again, or until I've spent $2,500 in prescriptions. I hope there's some way doctors will be able to hand out samples again. I agree--they can really help.

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Warpy

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Sun Jan-20-08 01:33 AM
Response to Reply #1

4. If your doc is in an HMO

the drug samples are collected and repackaged in the pharmacy. Hospitals are also doing that one.

Only creative docs with locking desk drawers to which supervisory personnel have no key still keep drug samples.

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