Comments on: Docs: We’ll See A Rep Any Old Time Of Day http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:17:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: truthman30 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-369312 truthman30 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:03:35 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-369312 "As for drug lunches, somebody did say that “in the absence of drug lunches, doctors will continue to eat”. Similarly in the absence of medical reps, doctors would learn about new medicine? (Yes?)" Hah... Brilliantly said... :) “As for drug lunches, somebody did say that “in the absence of drug lunches, doctors will continue to eat”. Similarly in the absence of medical reps, doctors would learn about new medicine? (Yes?)”

Hah…

Brilliantly said…

:)

]]> By: Sathyapala http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-369304 Sathyapala Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:59:03 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-369304 "How else would physicians learn about new drugs?" Physicians presumably have readnig skills? There are enough independent unbiased evaluations (even on the internet) where a phyisician can get information easily. Oh yes, they dont have time to do that (but they have time to see the rep?). Collect all the times they see reps in a week and read a good article in one go. Getting information from Medical Reps in intellectual (if one can use that word) laziness. It is a professional obligation of a physician to be up to date in his/her knowledge. As for drug lunches, somebody did say that "in the absence of drug lunches, doctors will continue to eat". Similarly in the absence of medical reps, doctors would learn about new medicine? (Yes?) “How else would physicians learn about new drugs?”

Physicians presumably have readnig skills? There are enough independent unbiased evaluations (even on the internet) where a phyisician can get information easily.

Oh yes, they dont have time to do that (but they have time to see the rep?). Collect all the times they see reps in a week and read a good article in one go.

Getting information from Medical Reps in intellectual (if one can use that word) laziness. It is a professional obligation of a physician to be up to date in his/her knowledge.

As for drug lunches, somebody did say that “in the absence of drug lunches, doctors will continue to eat”. Similarly in the absence of medical reps, doctors would learn about new medicine? (Yes?)

]]> By: Mike http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-368105 Mike Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:48:43 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-368105 Drug reps serve a useful function. How else would physicians learn about new drugs? But like any commodity, drug reps need to be controlled. Establish ground rules and most important, calling times. A rep that's around all the time is a nuisance. A rep that barges in is an interruption of a routine. Get them in, hear what they have to say and send them on their way. If you like the drug, you call them. If not, tell the to go away, and if they push the issue, banish them. That gives the other reps an idea who their dealing with. The most important thing reps have to remember is that they're costing you time, and they are doing you a favor seeing you, not the other way around. Drug reps serve a useful function. How else would physicians learn about new drugs? But like any commodity, drug reps need to be controlled. Establish ground rules and most important, calling times. A rep that’s around all the time is a nuisance. A rep that barges in is an interruption of a routine. Get them in, hear what they have to say and send them on their way. If you like the drug, you call them. If not, tell the to go away, and if they push the issue, banish them. That gives the other reps an idea who their dealing with.

The most important thing reps have to remember is that they’re costing you time, and they are doing you a favor seeing you, not the other way around.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-367506 Anonymous Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:04:15 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-367506 The days of being able to walk into a physician's office and see the physician immediately are over. Changes in the industry have made it harder for pharma reps to get in. However, it looks like the majority of physicians are open to seeing reps, but many require an appointment. I find this to be valuable information for pharma reps. Knowing these statistics will allow for better strategic planning and greater success. The days of being able to walk into a physician’s office and see the physician immediately are over. Changes in the industry have made it harder for pharma reps to get in. However, it looks like the majority of physicians are open to seeing reps, but many require an appointment. I find this to be valuable information for pharma reps. Knowing these statistics will allow for better strategic planning and greater success.

]]> By: Dan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-367405 Dan Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:52:07 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-367405 While cynical, likely, if a rep goes to a medical institution to see a particular doctor, it is either to give him a large check or make him or her aware of thier next lucurative opportunity. While cynical, likely, if a rep goes to a medical institution to see a particular doctor, it is either to give him a large check or make him or her aware of thier next lucurative opportunity.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-367395 Ed Silverman Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:09:38 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-367395 Hi Chris, I wrote that while thinking about the many stories and anecdotes in which reps are described as persona non grata. So it was a bit tongue in cheek. Although I do hope to remember to post a survey tomorrow about the extent to which docs value info from reps. With any luck, I will remember. Cheers ed Hi Chris,

I wrote that while thinking about the many stories and anecdotes in which reps are described as persona non grata. So it was a bit tongue in cheek. Although I do hope to remember to post a survey tomorrow about the extent to which docs value info from reps. With any luck, I will remember.

Cheers
ed

]]> By: Chris http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-367391 Chris Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:01:07 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-367391 Why should be it hard to believe that 76% see a rep? Perhaps docs and practitioners find some information or news of value from medical reps. Amazing though that may be, many in this country and beyond are not so sceptical or embittered as some of our bretheren on this blog, and can actually recognise value and integrity in many of the reps who are out there doing a decent job. OK, maybe some of the 76% are hungry but give them credit for being able to weed out the overtly promotional pitches from the balanced ones. As always, some on here assume that brainwashed ex-models bearing little more than pizzas are somehow managing to convince professionally trained practitioners to use their drugs regardless. Let this suggest that soem at least can make up their own minds. Why should be it hard to believe that 76% see a rep? Perhaps docs and practitioners find some information or news of value from medical reps. Amazing though that may be, many in this country and beyond are not so sceptical or embittered as some of our bretheren on this blog, and can actually recognise value and integrity in many of the reps who are out there doing a decent job. OK, maybe some of the 76% are hungry but give them credit for being able to weed out the overtly promotional pitches from the balanced ones. As always, some on here assume that brainwashed ex-models bearing little more than pizzas are somehow managing to convince professionally trained practitioners to use their drugs regardless. Let this suggest that soem at least can make up their own minds.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-367385 Anonymous Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:42:45 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-367385 When I managed group practices in the early 1980's, the rep call situation was out of control. On some days I had as many reps trying to get in as patients and on others no one called; some reps came by every 6-8 weeks, others were monthly and some tried to get in every 2-3 weeks. The doctors and staff weren't happy with the situation and it was leading to patient delays when several repps tried to get in at the same time. I instituted an appointment only rule for reps. No more than one rep per day was allowed in to the facility and no rep was allowed in more than once a month. The reps were allowed to set up a table near the doctors' offices for before and through lunch time. It worked better for the doctors because they knew in advance who was coming in on a particular day and could arrange the amount of time (if any) they wanted with a specific rep. My goal in instituting the system was to cut patient delays and burdens on the support staff; the plan succeeded all around. The doctors and staff were happy with the program and patient satisfaction went up as well. The smarter representatives figured out that it was a win for them because they got access to up to 10 doctors in one visit instead of one or two. When I managed group practices in the early 1980’s, the rep call situation was out of control. On some days I had as many reps trying to get in as patients and on others no one called; some reps came by every 6-8 weeks, others were monthly and some tried to get in every 2-3 weeks. The doctors and staff weren’t happy with the situation and it was leading to patient delays when several repps tried to get in at the same time. I instituted an appointment only rule for reps. No more than one rep per day was allowed in to the facility and no rep was allowed in more than once a month. The reps were allowed to set up a table near the doctors’ offices for before and through lunch time. It worked better for the doctors because they knew in advance who was coming in on a particular day and could arrange the amount of time (if any) they wanted with a specific rep. My goal in instituting the system was to cut patient delays and burdens on the support staff; the plan succeeded all around. The doctors and staff were happy with the program and patient satisfaction went up as well. The smarter representatives figured out that it was a win for them because they got access to up to 10 doctors in one visit instead of one or two.

]]> By: Lisa Van S http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/docs-well-see-a-rep-any-old-time-of-day/#comment-367373 Lisa Van S Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:10:37 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14733#comment-367373 Quite Interesting, My Daughter is a Medical Assistant in a private office, and they make sales reps wait!!!! Quite Interesting, My Daughter is a Medical Assistant in a private office, and they make sales reps wait!!!!

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