Bled Tanoe, PharmD

03/25/2023

To answer everyone question about our height: yes. 😂😂😂.

I can’t believe I got to meet this amazing Pharmacist Warrior!! The Accidental Pharmacist

03/24/2023

Candace Olusola, RPh, PharmD, MPH . There might not be not a this year and very much at the disappointment of many individuals who have approached me before and during the conference, but we are here to make sure that the conversations do not remain superficial and we are determined to make this as impactful and even uncomfortable as it needs to be.

Workload issues are not something to simply be discussed and pushed aside by comments like “PBMs” reforms will fix everything. While we know very well there is indeed a great need for better payement models, we are in desperate need of state and national regulations which will address working conditions at their core.

So hoping that afternoon session tomorrow discussing systemic solutions will be more fruitful and more truthful.

03/24/2023

Probably had 10 hours of sleep in total in the last 72 hours! So someone hand me a cup of coffee when you see me. But all the sacrifices made for me to head to were so worthy.

Excited and humbled to be one of the many voices represented , and at the conference. Looking forward to productive and perhaps uncomfortable conversations and for some great resolution points to address the issues in the workplace.

Patient safety and medication access are only obtainable if we put first the people who are serving our community everyday.

So let’s do this.
And don’t forget to stop by thr Drug Topics booth during the conference and especially during our meeting and greet time, tonight from 8-830 and tomorrow from 12-1230.

03/22/2023

My silent supporter:

On Monday, my husband suffered a knee injury. We are not sure the extent of it yet. But at that time, I automatically decided to cancel my trip this week. I am not going to lie and pretend that I was not sad about it. But there was no way I was leaving him to fend for himself and two small children with no family around to come stay with him.

We went back and forth with deciding what to do about my incoming trip. I wanted to cancel. He said no. And he worked extremely hard to prove to myself that he can take care of himself and our tiny humans. Perhaps doing a bit too much. But he told me : “ I know you don’t want to go. But you worked too hard for this. You have to go”.

This year I have no sessions of my own and so really I have no true obligation per say. And family always comes first. But what my husband was trying to say is that as small as my impact and my presence are in the grand scheme of things, discussions working conditions ( and he is not a pharmacist by the way), would simply spark because of my presence and it would be impossible to ignore talking about the horrible things which are happening right now within our community retail pharmacists. So he said “ you need to be here”.

I am cautiously and truly anxious about headed to . I feel like a bad partner for leaving But I am going with my head high because I have the support of my biggest fan ; someone who said yes to me when I started this campaign.

Please say send some thoughts and prayers for him as I am away and hopefully this knee injury is not anything that necessitates surgery.

I have also posted my schedule for the conference. If you want to meet outside of thsoe, Sunday is my best time. Please reach out and we can see what we can do.

See in Phoenix Phriends.

03/20/2023

is week and if you are Brad or anyone of authority at CVS Health , Walgreens RITEAID PHARMACY Kroger and all others who wants and has the power to improve working conditions, please let’s meet up! Like I said, this year is the time to rise above the issues we are facing and I hate to say that “ sign on bonuses” are not cutting it!

Your employees want more than money. They want respect, honor, value, a voice that is heard and not punished!! They want a better company culture.
We can do this! And we can work together to make sure that you are thriving as a company and your employees and patients are safe.

So if you say that you care about improving working conditions, then I hope to see you, shake your hands and even take a picture. Because nothing says that you are willing to make those changes and listen than coming to the table together.

So let’s do this!

03/17/2023

I am so incredibly excited to be at and to be one of beautiful voices for Pharmacy. Please come see me during the highlighted times at the Drug Topics booth. I am also attending the advocacy sessions on Friday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday as well as the Pharmacist Moms Group (PhMG)™ breakfast on Saturday AM ( see page to register).
I hope to have the opportunity to meet with key shareholders of Pharmacy associations , Boards of Pharmacy and Walgreens CVS Health RITEAID PHARMACY Kroger Walmart and others.

This year’s theme is absolutely significant and it is truly a time to . The time for talking will never be over because people need the space. But now, let’s come .

Thank you to Drug Topics for allowing me to represent our profession. And thank you to all who have donated to fund my trip there.

If you have any questions you want me to bring it during the advocacy sessions, please reach out to me.

03/16/2023

APhA Press Releases

The reason why we are here and will still be here:

“While workplace conditions continue to be the primary reason cited in the nearly 1,300 reports submitted to PWWR, harassment from patients/caregivers and the lack of open staff/supervisor communication channels is real and reported every quarter in PWWR’s first year,” said Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, APhA interim executive vice president and CEO”.

Don’t worry, I am still taking a much rested break.

But I have been anticipating the release of this reporting and not only i am not surprised but I am even more determined to continue this fight.
I know I have gotten a lot of heat from many people…telling me that I care about nothing but working conditions. I was told that I do not advocate for independents or health systems or non community retail pharmacists, technicians and students.

Let’s be clear on one thing, anything that advances the profession , I support. Even with the very smal knowledge I have about PBMs, I know that they are a decay to our profession. While I have been bluntly talking about the importance of looking at additional issues within our profession, I have never once said that PBMs reforms are not important.

Now, this report along with the 3000 surveys we have seen in the last years have supported the rhetoric that poor working is in fact the biggest concern we have right now in Pharmacy. And while better payments and reimbursement systems including laws supporting patients having equal access to any Pharmacies will in fact help, those solutions are NOT the only or I will even say , NOT the most effective ones in terms of addressing working conditions ( feel free to educate me on that). Because the issues with community chain Pharmacy right now are linked with a culture that is deeply rooted in exponentially growing greed and profits , with no concerns for employees and patients. It is a culture that mistreats, disregards, devalues, and exploits. It is a culture that puts self gains above all else. It is a culture that has found ways to bend and exploit laws to its own will.

And it is not something that one or two or even three individuals can fix. It will take all of us from individual pharmacists, to state and national associations, boards of pharmacy, legislators and the public.

So yea until we collectively realize the gravity of these issues and MAKE them priorities not just by words but by actions, we still be there!

APhA is the leading advocate for the pharmacy profession and a driving force in creating opportunities for pharmacists to play a key role in integrated...

03/15/2023

Imagine this being your “ designated “ place to do something so intimate, emotionally and physically taxing at times and yet so beautiful.

Or imagine this is how your food is being prepared.

Imagine if this is the place you as a CEO of a company are asked to eat lunch.

There have been so many horror stories about lactation breaks. Working moms being asked to pump in places like bathrooms or shared breakrooms or offices and not be given a clean, private or even the time to pump.

Do you know that many moms have more anxiety about returning because of the lack of proper opportunities ( time and space) for lactation breaks?

Employers must do a better job at ensuring that safe, private, sanitary room and also time are given to their employees who are new lactating moms.

Note: this is NOT my place of employment. Courtesy of Reddit, Inc. .

03/12/2023

Take a chance:

It is always the same story… community Pharmacists unable to get positions at inpatient facilities. I can’t remember the amount of applications I put in before my landed my then PRN hospital position. I have even had my resume redone. Those things are not cheap by the way.

And yet, in my good old state of Oklahoma, there was no place for me in a hospital.

And I am not one to cry out “ discrimination” for no reason whether is professional or others. I would never attempt to apply for positions which ask for specifics skills or certifications. And there are instances with the hiring process and facility needs which make hospitals be very selective in their candidates.

But the truth is, the majority of hospitals do not want to hire community pharmacists. They claim that it takes too long to train them. Or that they are not up to the task. Or they are not “ clinical “ enough. “ They can’t do it”… they say. No one wants to take a chance in them…no one wants to invest in them.

The transition from community to hospital is a journey that is never ending. It is also a very difficult process as community Pharmacists are swimming in different waters. It does require a different set of skills and clinical knowledge that they don’t necessarily get to use in community because of the environment. But it does not mean that they can’t learn. It does not mean that they are incapable. It does not mean that they are less clinical.

Community pharmacy births beautiful strengths. It births abilities which are unique to its setting and yet very transferable. It births momentum and adaptability.

Don’t dismiss Community Pharmacists when you see their applications. Get to know them first before you make a decision.

Take a chance on them.

Thoughts?

03/10/2023

Yesterday, I posted a message about a devastating story about a young man in Oklahoma. I added the link below in order to get more content about those horrible message this poor mother is getting.

She is trying to fight and raise awareness about bullying and now she is a victim of it!

People are so cruel.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=230652719474133&id=100075882192017&mibextid=qC1gEa

03/10/2023

Ready for . I hope my voice can be representative of so many silenced voices. If you see in the halls, please don’t hesitate to say hi. I am a bit reserved at first . But then I explode into this extra person. Lol. I would even take a hug.

PS: last year was so overwhelming especially when people kept staring at me but never saying hi because they thought I was “ it”. People called me a pharmacy celebrity and I thought I was going to die.

I promise you that , I am not “ it”. I am the most regular, down to earth people and anyone who has met me before and even after became what it is, will tell you that.

I don’t personally understand the concept of taking yourself so seriously that people can’t approach you.

So please come hug my neck if you feel comfortable. Yell my name if you see me. And let’s have fun.

❤️❤️❤️

03/09/2023

**** quitting today…can mean that you are alive to endure and finish whatever tomorrow journey is.****

If you live in Oklahoma, especially OKC/ Edmond, you have probably heard about the recent tragedy of the teen who ended up doing the unthinkable about being bullied by his teammates.

Today, the Mom released a text from her son and my brain and heart are hurting for this Mama. She took a huge risk releasing that text because it carried such a huge weight. But I believe it was done in order to be a teachable moment for all parents… to listen and to allow your kids to quit when it can help save their lives.

In the text, her son was asking her to take a year off of the sport in question. He said “ mom please”… he mentioned the bullying. She reminded him that he was not a quitter and I 100% believe that she meant it in a way to remind him of his strength. She believed that he could overcome this and stand up for himself and the sport he so loved. She probably did not want to allow him to quit something because it is too hard. It was meant to be with love.

But it did end up in tragedy and I know that she drowning in so much grief...thinking about how her son would have been alive if only she had yes…” you can quit”. My heart so hurts for her.

I believe this is a lesson for all of us especially when there is so much shame in “ quitting”. Society makes us believe that we have to stay and ensure the abuse…physical, emotional, spiritual, mental. We are taught to believe that if we quit… we are over…weak…nothing…not brave or whatever. Society tells that we must stay in relationships, personal or even professional which tear us down! “ it will make you strong”… they say.

But there is a time to quit indeed so that you can breath, reflect, process and ultimately stay alive.

So if today, your kids tell you the same thing, think hard before you make any decision. If today, you need to be a quitter to stay alive…then run as fast as you can.

Because quitting today…can mean that you are alive to endure and finish whatever tomorrow journey is.

And also, bullying whether at school, church, especially the workplace is NEVER ok.

Be kind. It costs nothing.

PS: if your opinion is to blame the mom, it is your opinion and I can’t keep you from having it. just know that life is quite funny in the way its wheels turn.

03/09/2023

03/07/2023

I am not an antagonist or a hater:

I am not entirely back from my break. But I felt like strongly that it was important to mention this as I had some time to reflect a lot.

First, if you have been following me , you know what I have consistently advocated for memberships because I have in fact seen its power. If Retail Community Pharmacists, Technicians and Students want their voices to be heard and for their issues to be fought for, there is no other choice. I hate to say it but is not going to be enough. It was not meant to be.

You need Associations, state and national because they have the caliber, the resources , the connections and much more to move the mountains you face. So do it. I can’t stress that enough.

But that being said, I need to make this point. I am not an antagonist of associations. I have never set myself to be one. If anything, from the very beginning I have said that I wanted to work with them because I recognized how important their actions are on our profession. I have this again and again.

However, I am disappointed in the realization that to some , choose to not engage whatsoever in the issues of poor working conditions. I am heartbroken by the disregard when I see so much power, money and actions in fighting PBMs and again… rightfully so. Bad PBMs are a decay to our profession. And yes, I know that many have taken offenses for me calling them out on their silence and their inaction. It is not going to stop. Let’s be clear on that.

But it does not make me an antagonist. It does not make me an hater.

I want to strive for unity. I want to bridge the gap. I want to aid in anyways I can.

So if you are an association, I extend a sincere apology if you felt attacked. It was not an attack. It was a call to action. But still, here are my deepest apologies to you. But first, get to know me before you pass judgement. Know why I say the things I say. And know that truly, my heart is to be a champion for all pharmacy. And I want to be part of the journey.

If you are attending , let’s meet. You can probably find me faster than I can. I would love to sit down, get coffee and talk.

Thank you to all of you Associations which have been tirelessly working on behalf of our profession.

Thank you for using your voice to move the scary mountains.

03/02/2023

In case you have not heard, we are working on this. If we can make this happen, it will be amazing!
Please reach out directly to the Accidental Pharmacist or RxComedy on Facebook/ Instagram. If you are not able, reach out to me and I will forward your message.

From The AP and RxComedy:

“We are looking first to build out a program filled with a select group of featured pharmacists and technicians. These are leaders, social media personalities, entrepreneurs and educators within our profession that will be asked to perform, hold CEs, lead discussion groups, serve as panelists, etc.

Those interested will be part of the proposal we are taking to the cruise lines. Yes, we have already made connections to get this in front of their executives. Maurice and I understand making this a reality is a huge undertaking but we would love to be the first all encompassing, pharmacy convention/experience people want to attend!

If you want to help or be a part of the planning process for [email protected] 2024, DM the page for further details. Pharmacy on!”

02/22/2023

:

Since last week, I made plans to write to media to combat the false narrative of . And for the life of me, I had no motivation to do so. To be honestly, I did not fulfill any of my writing plans for the last month or this month.

And then tonight I realized what was happening…I am exhausted. I am terribly exhausted. I am overcome with a sense of lack of accomplishment and my inner mind in terms of advocacy is restless; absent.

I am unfocused and not productive. And thus… I am not the advocate I need to be.

I am thinking about how this would look…will they rejoice and say “ finally, she has broken down . We did it”. Perhaps they will feel victorious.

Wrong. The victory would have been for me to continue in this matter. To grasp for air when I know I am actually not breathing.

And I choose to be open about this for the very purpose I preach to others…there is no shame in stepping back. There is no shame in putting yourself first. There is no shame in self awareness of your needs. You do not need permission.

So this is what I am doing now. Because I love the work I am doing and because I want to do it with the value and the passion I stand for, I need this. I really need this.

I do not want you to be worried. I am telling you now so that the silence does not surprise you. And my silence is not a lack of inaction. I have not forgotten. I have not given up.

Thank you for allowing me to advocate for you. What a beautiful privilege.

While I am gone, please reach out to Shawn Bjorndal, PharmD and Kevin Walker, PharmD if you have any inquiries. If you have anything happening in your states and need more eyes on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.

My inbox is always open even though I won’t be answering for a while.

Thank you for your grace.

Love.
The PizzaIsNotWorking lady. 🙂

PS: I will still be attending ! So I will see many of you there 🙂