It is RPh not MD

We all like free advice and given the recent economic slump, even bad advice might be worth something. But...there is a limit. A couple of weeks ago, an elderly gentlemen snuck up on me at the pharmacy counter. I looked away for just a second and BAM...there he was! Now, that might not sound all that frightening to you, especially if you are a pharmacist. It is all in a days work.

But hey... you didn't see this guy's left eye. The color was a ghastly deep, dark, blood red. The reason: A large wood chip from his favorite chain saw just happened to find his eye. The hemmorhage was breath taking. And as you would guess, chunks of wood moving at bullet speed tend to do that. It was horrible and I was certain that any minute that eye would be violently erupting on my recently cleaned pharmacy counter. I am sure you can feel the angst. Then, it happened, and it was not the pop of bodily fluid. It was something more scarier than the impressive injury at hand. It was his unbelievable question, "Do you think Visine will help?"

Now, I think I was the one in semi-shock state. Look, as pharmacists, we are secretly flattered by the trust given to us by all of you loyal patients. Many confide in us at a deeper level than their physician, pastor, bishop, or for that matter, wife! I have even heard on occasions people ask, "Well...aren't you a guys doctors?"

But serious medical emergencies like this are way out of our league and please understand our limitations. As a result, I will quickly point you to the nearest emergency room or urgent-care clinic. I will then remind you that RPh stand for registered pharmacist, not medical doctor. So next time, you have a serious health problem, ask yourself, "Will Visine will help me?" Then, go see a doctor..stat!

and remember...take as directed,

Blake