AU Blogspot

I wasn’t sure at first if Ashworth was going to be the best school for me to take this program. And I wasn’t sure if the program would be good and really help me in the near future.  I was confused, but I made the best decision. Their program is good and you will learn the program if you really pay attention to it and take every lesson seriously.   

I got my package one week after enrolling.  It was fast and everything was there.  I’m new in the medical field, so I was kind of nervous yet excited at the same time.  I’m now on Lesson 4.  Getting there and loving it!

It’s pretty hard for me, but I am very motivated and looking forward to finishing my program.  I hope to be able to start working in a hospital or home health environment—doing what I love to do.

To all my fellow Medical Billing/Claims students, keep motivating yourself.  

It’s all worth it!  Good Luck!

Amanda
Student
Ashworth Medical Billing/Claims Program 

                 Thanks to inajeep for permission to use this Photo.

For many moms, going back to work after spending so much time with their newborn is one of the most difficult things they will ever have to do. Here are some ideas to make the transition just a little easier.

Before You Return To Work  

Decide when you want to return to work

Discuss with your employer how much time you can take for maternity leave. You might not have the luxury of deciding whether or not to return to work, but you can take as much time as you’re allowed.

Find dependable child care

Leaving your newborn in someone else’s care can be very stressful. Finding a reliable child-care provider whom you trust will ease your worries considerably. Your child-care options range from individual in-home care to a creche. Give yourself time to find the best facilities in your area.

Talk to your boss

Discuss your duties and schedule so you’ll know what’s expected of you when you return. Ask about flexible hours or working from home on occasion.

Once You’re Back At Work

Manage your time well

Balancing family and work responsibilities demands good time management and organizational skills. You need to plan a system to make sure everything gets done. If you are overwhelmed with demands, allow the less important ones to slide.

Stay connected

Find ways to stay connected with your baby when you’re away. Make regular phone calls to see how your baby’s doing or keep photos on your desk. (more…)

In my opinion, the ability to maintain positive “human relations” is one of the most important aspects of modern pharmacy.  We are fortunate that the public has always viewed pharmacy as an honorable profession.  I believe we owe this to our ability to serve our customers well, acting always in their best interests.  For one thing, we are much more accessible to the public than any other healthcare professionals.  Therefore, patients trust us with their health concerns and feel comfortable confiding even embarrassing problems with us.  If we maintain a professional attitude and treat our customers with respect, they’ll return and tell us even more about their conditions, which will help the supervising pharmacist advise them and, in some cases, provide vital information to the attending doctors.

While working in retail, I had many opportunities to practice my interpersonal skills.  Remember, when patients come to you, they may already be sick and may have spent time at a doctor’s office that day.  By the time they get to the pharmacy, they may have run out of patience.  I’ve found that greeting patients with a smile and a pleasant manner puts them at ease.  They don’t mind waiting for a prescription if they feel you are taking good care of them.  Be sure to explain what information you need from them to make the process go more quickly and why you need it.  If there’s a delay or if it takes longer than normal to prepare the prescription, give them updates.  For example, you may have to wait for insurance approval, or a suspension might need time to dissolve.  Information lets customers feel they are part of the process.  When they understand what is going on, they usually remain calm.

Tina Boyd Stacy
Pharmacy Technology Instructor
Ashworth University