Comments on: Are Drug Rep Visits Costing You Thousands Every Year? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78635 Anonymous Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:27:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78635 To the PE, <br/>With all due respect, engineering is a bit more leisurely than medical practice (I have worked with both engineers and docs extensivey).<br/><br/>Many docs don't have time to read journals or attend many medical conferences. When they do read journals it is not usually to discover new products. As a salesman, I am presenting information about my product (and so are other sales reps from every company) - however it is always up to the doc to make up his or her mind about the best treatment. <br/><br/>After over ten years in the business, I have never heard of a pharma rep being called by a doc for an appontment. People in my shoes know docs seldom call their own spouses let alone a drug salesman! To the PE,
With all due respect, engineering is a bit more leisurely than medical practice (I have worked with both engineers and docs extensivey).

Many docs don’t have time to read journals or attend many medical conferences. When they do read journals it is not usually to discover new products. As a salesman, I am presenting information about my product (and so are other sales reps from every company) – however it is always up to the doc to make up his or her mind about the best treatment.

After over ten years in the business, I have never heard of a pharma rep being called by a doc for an appontment. People in my shoes know docs seldom call their own spouses let alone a drug salesman!

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78633 Anonymous Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:02:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78633 Anon 3:24, as a licensed professional engineer, I get my new product news primarily from trade journals specific to my field and from convention exhibits. When I do see a salesman, it is by appointment at my request and only to get technical details, case studies, and local user references that aren't in the ads. Why would any MD WANT to get their new product news from a biased non-MD salesman who is simply assigned to target them early and often? Anon 3:24, as a licensed professional engineer, I get my new product news primarily from trade journals specific to my field and from convention exhibits. When I do see a salesman, it is by appointment at my request and only to get technical details, case studies, and local user references that aren’t in the ads. Why would any MD WANT to get their new product news from a biased non-MD salesman who is simply assigned to target them early and often?

]]> By: Michael Rack, MDhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78630 Michael Rack, MD Sun, 05 Aug 2007 21:24:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78630 "One of several reasons that I don't see them anymore. I find it amusing how a doctor making 100 an hour will debase himself, and lose time from his practice, for a 7$ dollar sandwich."<br/><br/>A typical non-surgeon physician, at least in my state, makes approximately $75/hr, pre-tax, about $50/hr after taxes. It takes me approx 8 minutes of work to make enough money to buy a sandwich. So it's worth it to listen to a drug rep to get a free sandwich, as long as it takes less than 8 minutes of my time (and that's not even counting in the free food for my staff). “One of several reasons that I don’t see them anymore. I find it amusing how a doctor making 100 an hour will debase himself, and lose time from his practice, for a 7$ dollar sandwich.”

A typical non-surgeon physician, at least in my state, makes approximately $75/hr, pre-tax, about $50/hr after taxes. It takes me approx 8 minutes of work to make enough money to buy a sandwich. So it’s worth it to listen to a drug rep to get a free sandwich, as long as it takes less than 8 minutes of my time (and that’s not even counting in the free food for my staff).

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78627 Anonymous Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:24:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78627 As a rep, I see that many offices set aside one pre-scheduled day a week for drug lunches - the staff enjoys the free lunch, including staffers making barely more than minimum wage in many offices.<br/><br/>The physician usually comes in for 5 minutes, takes some literature and is on his or her way. The 60 minutes a week suggested in the Medical Economics article is pure hogwash. I have never in my dreams seen a doc spend half that much time in an office drug lunch. A good rep can get his message across in 5 minutes or less. Docs have to eat anyway, so we are not taking away from patient care. <br/><br/>Indeed we are purchasing and delivering the lunch to the office, which actually saves time compared to the doc going out for food, or even down to the hospital cafeteria.<br/><br/>Many physicians in today's frantic practice environment don't have the time to learn about new products on the marketplace which may benefit their patients. I provide appropriate peer reviewed information and journal reprints, not just glossy brochures- so (believe it or not) the doc and his patients might actually BENEFIT from the encounter as well. Imagine that. As a rep, I see that many offices set aside one pre-scheduled day a week for drug lunches – the staff enjoys the free lunch, including staffers making barely more than minimum wage in many offices.

The physician usually comes in for 5 minutes, takes some literature and is on his or her way. The 60 minutes a week suggested in the Medical Economics article is pure hogwash. I have never in my dreams seen a doc spend half that much time in an office drug lunch. A good rep can get his message across in 5 minutes or less. Docs have to eat anyway, so we are not taking away from patient care.

Indeed we are purchasing and delivering the lunch to the office, which actually saves time compared to the doc going out for food, or even down to the hospital cafeteria.

Many physicians in today’s frantic practice environment don’t have the time to learn about new products on the marketplace which may benefit their patients. I provide appropriate peer reviewed information and journal reprints, not just glossy brochures- so (believe it or not) the doc and his patients might actually BENEFIT from the encounter as well. Imagine that.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78603 Anonymous Sun, 05 Aug 2007 00:27:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78603 When a patient starts to analyze the semaintics of every word, it's time for a discharge letter. When a patient starts to analyze the semaintics of every word, it’s time for a discharge letter.

]]> By: KoKohttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78601 KoKo Sat, 04 Aug 2007 23:38:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78601 "A patient encounter"<br/><br/>When an MD starts to refer to a patient visit as an "encounter", perhaps it's time to change professions.<br/><br/>How about a change to boxing? “A patient encounter”

When an MD starts to refer to a patient visit as an “encounter”, perhaps it’s time to change professions.

How about a change to boxing?

]]> By: Ryan Robertshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78599 Ryan Roberts Sat, 04 Aug 2007 20:20:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78599 I have conflicting views on this because:<br/><br/>(a) both of my parents are physicians, <br/>(b) my wife was a drug rep, and<br/>(c) I worked for a health care company previously.<br/><br/>But the only thing that came to mind was, think how much happier your staff is with those lunches (and dinners)...since the typical staffer replies with a much higher than actual number when the drug rep asks "how many in the office?" Thus, you, your staff, and Corner Bakery/Chili's/Boston Market/(insert local Mexican food joint) all benefit.<br/><br/>Nothing like a fringe benefit you don't have to pay for. Well, unless you get stuck talking to the drug rep. I have conflicting views on this because:

(a) both of my parents are physicians,
(b) my wife was a drug rep, and
(c) I worked for a health care company previously.

But the only thing that came to mind was, think how much happier your staff is with those lunches (and dinners)…since the typical staffer replies with a much higher than actual number when the drug rep asks “how many in the office?” Thus, you, your staff, and Corner Bakery/Chili’s/Boston Market/(insert local Mexican food joint) all benefit.

Nothing like a fringe benefit you don’t have to pay for. Well, unless you get stuck talking to the drug rep.

]]> By: Mitch Keamyhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78597 Mitch Keamy Sat, 04 Aug 2007 16:52:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78597 I never understood why anybody would willingly give themselves over to a vendor/rep for 2+ hours for a fifty dollar steak, either. I have been in a procuring position for 20 years for various departments, and I always tell the vendors that my consulting fee is $300/hour, but that if they pay me for my time I will have to declare a conflict of interest and disqualify myself from recommending their products. That quickly sorts things out. I like the Kaiser approach; no vendors. leave your literature. I never understood why anybody would willingly give themselves over to a vendor/rep for 2+ hours for a fifty dollar steak, either. I have been in a procuring position for 20 years for various departments, and I always tell the vendors that my consulting fee is $300/hour, but that if they pay me for my time I will have to declare a conflict of interest and disqualify myself from recommending their products. That quickly sorts things out. I like the Kaiser approach; no vendors. leave your literature.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78596 Anonymous Sat, 04 Aug 2007 16:37:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78596 One of several reasons that I don't see them anymore. I find it amusing how a doctor making 100 an hour will debase himself, and lose time from his practice, for a 7$ dollar sandwich.<br/><br/>Now if I actually liked seeing them and thought I got useful information, instead of a manipulative sales job, I might rationalize a reason to do it.<br/><br/>Far better however, to take 5 minutes to close my eyes and clear my head than 5 minutes for a drug rep. The side benefit is that without a sample cabinet, I don't get pestered by people who make 100,000 a year for free samples all the time. One of several reasons that I don’t see them anymore. I find it amusing how a doctor making 100 an hour will debase himself, and lose time from his practice, for a 7$ dollar sandwich.

Now if I actually liked seeing them and thought I got useful information, instead of a manipulative sales job, I might rationalize a reason to do it.

Far better however, to take 5 minutes to close my eyes and clear my head than 5 minutes for a drug rep. The side benefit is that without a sample cabinet, I don’t get pestered by people who make 100,000 a year for free samples all the time.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you.html#comment-78593 Anonymous Sat, 04 Aug 2007 14:11:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/are-drug-rep-visits-costing-you-thousands-every-year.html#comment-78593 ...and let us not get started on the topic of how much each week out of the office costs...it is on the magnitude of 5% of your income! …and let us not get started on the topic of how much each week out of the office costs…it is on the magnitude of 5% of your income!

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