Pharmacy Discretion

[pamelatransuk]

I receive my HRT medication by post and am considering transferring HRT medication to local pharmacy just so I can collect faster and save on post.

Whereas it is always safe to talk about any medication with a doctor as they bound by oath and should be discreet also, I am concerned that the same may not necessarily apply to a pharmacy. I believe the Pharmacist/Manager/Owner would be trained to be discreet but I wonder about the assistants.

In your experience if you collect your HRT from pharmacy, have you ever been asked "Is this for you?" or "Why has this been prescribed?" and hence suffered embarrassment if other people there waiting please? Would a good practice call you aside and ask a query in private? Would the average pharmacy care about discretion please?

Thanking you

Pamela   

[Dani]

All people who work in a Pharmacy are trained on patient privacy issues. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act (HIPPA) here in the US, revealing any patient information is a crime punishable by monetary fines or imprisonment. Your privacy is just as safe with a pharmacy as it is with your doctor.

[sarah1972]

I have never been asked anything about my meds and I get them in a small town pharmacy right behind my house, so they pretty much know every single person with a regular prescription. They know our names, family status and I am sure they know I am trans. They saw me change in the last 2 Years.


I know others have been asked.

In the end the pharmacist and all the staff is also bound by similar rules than doctors and if they ask anything they have to use the same discretion than a doctor to protect your privacy.

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

Not all pharmacists are as confidential as doctors.

A friend of mine was doing a one-off shift at the local pharmacy I went to as they were low on staff. Of course that was the day I went to fill my prescription. I said hello to my friend and we had a conversation for a while, but she was really more of an acquaintance at that stage.

Once I left the pharmacist outed me to said friend, who I hadn't actually come out to at the time. When she told me the whole story after I eventually came out to her of my own accord (she knew the whole time but was being respectful and pretending not to) I was gobsmacked. So unprofessional.

Another time I had another pharmacist frown at my prescription then ask me rather loudly "Are you transitioning or something?" while there were other people waiting behind me.

Be careful. I want to note these are isolated incidents and the countless other times I've been to have my prescription filled I haven't had bad experiences. But it can and does happen.

[Megan.]

In the UK, I've collected my prescription from boots, Lloyds, sainsburys, Asda...

I walk in give them my prescription with a smile and expect good service. They can lose their license/job very quickly if they are not accurate or professional.

Boots messed up one time and gave me a different estradiol formulation, I had to go back and tell them they messed up,  they were very apologetic!

You're a woman collecting some medication, simple. X

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[Gertrude]

Not all pharmacists are as confidential as doctors.

A friend of mine was doing a one-off shift at the local pharmacy I went to as they were low on staff. Of course that was the day I went to fill my prescription. I said hello to my friend and we had a conversation for a while, but she was really more of an acquaintance at that stage.

Once I left the pharmacist outed me to said friend, who I hadn't actually come out to at the time. When she told me the whole story after I eventually came out to her of my own accord (she knew the whole time but was being respectful and pretending not to) I was gobsmacked. So unprofessional.

Another time I had another pharmacist frown at my prescription then ask me rather loudly "Are you transitioning or something?" while there were other people waiting behind me.

Be careful. I want to note these are isolated incidents and the countless other times I've been to have my prescription filled I haven't had bad experiences. But it can and does happen.

You should have asked the pharmacist, do they understand HIPPA?


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[TonyaW]

Pharmacists and any employee that deals with patient health information (PHI) are bound by HIPPA  as far as privacy goes.  Definitely a violation for the one that outed someone to their friend.  Sharing PHI is a definite no no and that is rare that someone would do that.

The biggest privacy issue is that pharmacies are usually fairly open public areas and even when trying to be discreet things can be overheard.  HIPPA has been around long enough that pharmacists  should not be yelling out medical questions if they need more information to fill a prescription. 

For the OP,  you can go to the pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist in charge and explain your situation and ask for assurance of extra discretion.  It's the law so they ought not to have a problem with it. 

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[cartowheel]

Although I am not currently on HRT, I have been dealing with the pharmacy my whole life, being type 1 diabetic.  Every prescription I've ever had - be it insulin, birth control, Zoloft, antibiotics - just needed a 'Hi, I need to pick up a prescription for so-and-so' and there are never any questions asked, and I've been through three pharmacies.  Unless they're disrespectful or don't care, they don't ask questions and it's a very quick process.

[RobynTx]

HIPPA should protect you here in the states.  I don't know what other countries have that may be similar.  One reason I picked the pharmacy I currently use is because it has a drive thru window.  That saves me when I'm not in a peopling mood.

[Deborah]

I have used the pharmacy at WalMart and at an Army Hospital for HRT.  The first time at WalMart the Pharmacist questioned me discreetly to be sure the prescription was correct.  After that nothing was ever said and the experience was uneventful.  At the Army Hospital nobody has ever said anything other than the usual asking if I had any questions about the dose.  They often ask that about any meds there.


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[Meghan]

My health care team know I am on Medical transition so to them I just another woman going on on my business.

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[Ellement_of_Freedom]

You should have asked the pharmacist, do you understand HIPPA?

I live in Australia.

[Cindy]

Elle,

You need to and should complain to AHPRA
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/

They have teeth, are independent and act on such complaints. Such behaviour is illegal and abhorrent and needs to be tackled.

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

Elle,

You need to and should complain to AHPRA
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/

They have teeth, are independent and act on such complaints. Such behaviour is illegal and abhorrent and needs to be tackled.

I would but the pharmacist no longer practices anyway.

[Donna]

I get my estrogen from a different pharmacy than my other meds as it's in the same building as my hormone doctor. I was asked why I was getting it the first time I picked it up. Being a smart ass I just opened my jacket and said I wanted bigger breasts. End of conversation and I left with my prescription. No more questions since then.

[Tammy Jade]

Aussie here so experiences maybe different.

I have a regular pharmacy (diabetic) that I go to... Over here it is pretty much standard for a pharmacist to ask if "you have taken it before" and if you haven't verify that you know what your taking, dosage and possible side effects ect.. well at least in my experience that's seems to be the case with the ones iv been to.

The first time I went in to collect my scrip I was picking up Spiro and E in man mode.. wasn't out..

It's the first and only time iv had a scrip handed to me that iv never taken before and the pharmacist just looked at me and said "you know exactly what this will do right" (or something close to that I can't remember the exact wording) then paid walked out and nothing was said.

I was sooo thankful that he obviously put it together and chose not to go through the whole explanation and questions that normally happens.

So good pharmacists do exist


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[christinej78]

I get my estrogen from a different pharmacy than my other meds as it's in the same building as my hormone doctor. I was asked why I was getting it the first time I picked it up. Being a smart ass I just opened my jacket and said I wanted bigger breasts. End of conversation and I left with my prescription. No more questions since then.

Donna,

I like your response; I'll give it a try if the opportunity ever arises. Do know why they don't send Donkey's to college? On one of my smart ass trips I landed in jail; some cops just can't take a joke. Ironically I became one and was the joke.

I recently went on HRT; the med cost me $70.00 for 4 weeks of transdermal patches. Afterwards I found I could have obtained them for half that amount by using GoodRX.com. It's worth looking into and it's free. I went to my dermatologist yesterday and he gave me a GoodRx coupon. I used it at a Kroger pharmacy and saved 50%. I don't know how this works, just that it does.

Best Always,

Christine

[Kitty June]

Christine,
GoodRx was a lifesaver. I picked my pharmacy as Walmart because patches only cost about $35 compared to the $100 or so the box said.
I eventually switched to pills and insurance covers it.
The only problem I ever had with a pharmacy was the pre authorization crap [emoji35]

Take care
Kitty



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[TinaVane]

One can easily call the pharmacist that they saw you come out of and pretend to be you. All they have to do is know your name and birthdate....


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[KathyLauren]

I pick up my prescriptions in person at a local drugstore.  The first few times, I was presenting male.  Since then, I have presented as female.  I have had no problems.

Pharmacists are trained to be discrete, and as others have pointed out, there are legal protections in many places requiring them to be discrete.  When I started out, I had my doctor list my name on the prescription as "<deadname> (Kathleen) <lastname>".  It was fairly obvious what the prescription was for.  The only awkward question was which name I wanted them to use.  Now, my prescriptions are written out just for Kathleen.

They do ask if you have taken the meds before.  That is a requirement, because they have to ensure that you know how to take them.

I resolved when I transitioned that I would have no more secrets.  So, if a pharmacist had asked me the purpose of the prescription back when I was presenting male, I would have told them: gender transition.  I am not ashamed of who I am.  Knowing the purpose helps them to be confident that I am getting the right meds.  Nowadays, I don't worry about it at all.  I am just a [possibly trans, possibly post-menopausal] woman picking up her HRT meds.  Happens all the time.  Nothing to see here, folks.