Doctor To Rep: ‘I Do Not Have Time To Talk To You’
16 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // January 31st, 2011 // 11:25 am
What do reps really think of docs who keep them waiting? Who won’t give them a few seconds to hear about a new indication or sign a sample form? How about the receptionist? And why is she swiveling her hips?
Hat tip to Pharmagossip
Sam R.Ph.
Another question: How do patients who have been waiting close to an hour like it when sales reps(in mini-skirts), carrying a bunch of goodies, gets in to see their physician before they do?
Salient point
Patients are used to waiting. Like when filling an Rx, when they’re told it’ll take 5 mins. & it actually takes 20 to tell them the med needs to be ordered so come back tomorrow. That sort of thing.
Insider
When I was a rep, I refused to make false statements to physicians. If I knew the statement was not true I brought it up as it was discussed in a district meeting. Even with reps supporting me whcih did not happen much, the DM would not change the message nor ask a question about it to management. He did write me up for not including the false message in my details We were also trained on articles that had off-label messages and marked not to discuss. The compliance officers did not seam to have a problem with this activity. Why would you ever tain a rep on the sales message of an article that the rep is not allowed to discuss? We even paid physicians to speak to the district on journal articles that we were already trained on basically to get them more interested in using our drug not for the education. Well, I was fired for activities that other parts of the company had already cleared my on and after I had discussed with the State Board of Pharmacy- comment was no violation at all. So one can imgine it is not a good idea to challenge a District Manager trying to get you to promote off-label. One disappointment was that many of the reps went right along with the message even though they were sure it was illegal because they said that if they did not do what the DM wanted and did not make their numbers then they were gone anyway. HR supoorted the managers no matter what they were doing so I don’t recommend you report anything internally. And I don’t recommend that young poeople go into this field any longer which is sad. I also once was writtenup for not detaling physician after he just told me he did not have time. THe DM wanted a five second detail and I did not do it.
Pharmavet
“bunch of goodies”
Keep living in 1998. Even most of the haters on these boards know goodies haven’t existed for years.
Janet Carlson
I did laugh out loud - this is absolutely hilarious! We ALL know the rep-physician relationship is broken - let’s focus on better ways for pharma and physicians to connect in a positive way!
Tracey Higgins
Wonderfully and sadly true!
AnneS
Even if no goodies, I agree that it really burns to be waiting in the waiting room and have a pharma rep cut in front of you.
industry insider
I learned how to save money on my GQ subscription just by watching drug reps hanging around offices.
Pharmavet
and you still go no play from the ladies
Elmore
Interesting how from the rep’s viewpoint the doc is self-important. The rep in this oozes self-importance–how dare you keep me waiting an hour? And after I bought you lunch? There’s a reason reps are a dying breed.
Insider
Once the companies decided there was no need to bring scientific and accurate information to the physicians, the reps became a dying breed. The reps live on bribes to induce physicians to use their product.Often the worst offenders are medicaid physicians so the government is getting taken. There are still some good reps around but the physicians say they don’t have time to look for them and then they are gone anyway. And the good reps can’t copete with the bribes. Money is very difficult to compete directly against.
Shytown
Insider…
B…I…N…G…O!!!
Barbie
Lies lies lies, Ed any articles about the postive side of Pharma and sales reps in general?
jimmymack
Rep doc relationship was dealt a fatal blow when pharma banned golf outings
industry insider
Jimmy, the side benefit is that you can go into any discount golf store and get rock bottom priced Titleist golf balls and tees embossed with the product/company logo, now that the reps have no use for them.
rc heli
doctor said: “I do not have time to talk to you”. But he has already talked to her. So funny video.