The top 10 things drug reps do to tick me off

I generally like drug reps. Some doctors don’t want to deal with them, but I don’t mind. Most are people just trying to support their families, like me. I don’t do lunches anymore, but I never mind briefly chatting and signing for samples.

I’ve fired a few, though. Obviously, I can’t get them tossed from their jobs, but I tell them to never set foot in my office again.

What sort of things really tick me off?

1. Excessive pushiness. Yes, I know you have to sell a product. But endlessly emphasizing it and asking for my support is irritating. I signed for your samples.

2. Not respecting time constraints. Most reps know that doctors only have a few seconds to sign and exchange a few words and respect that, but some will chatter on about their drug at length, even when I’m obviously trying to run to see a patient. My responsibility is to those who need my help, not to those trying to show me a slick iPad graphic.

3. Stalking me. I’ve had reps follow me over to the hospital and out to my car while still talking. Don’t make me get a restraining order.

4. Wasting my staff’s time. My awesome receptionist is very busy. She also is not the one prescribing your product. Do not interfere with her job by rambling about your drug’s dosing, mechanism of action, plan coverage, or pretty much anything. I am paying her. You aren’t. She has a patient to check out, 12 things to fax, an MRI to schedule, and two calls on hold. When you are done talking to me, you are done here. Pack up your bag and move on.

5. Overt rudeness to me and my staff. Believe it or not, I’ve had reps blatantly accuse my secretary of lying to them about such things as not scheduling lunches or not needing samples. Telling her to just “get the doctor” won’t get you anywhere. She runs the office up front, and if you cross her you won’t get to me, either. I will back her up every time.

6. Trespassing. Back before we installed a lock on the door between the lobby and office, I had a rep just walk on back without checking in with the staff. He came to my office and interrupted me with a patient. If your company encourages this, you should work somewhere else. This is a fast way to be told to get out and never come back.

7. Discuss politics. You are welcome to your viewpoints. So am I. They have no place in the interaction between a doctor and a rep. Around the 2012 election, one rep expressed viewpoints that were extreme to the point of being delusional. When she discovered that none of us agreed with her, she became quite angry and confrontational. I told her to never come back.

8. Whip out my prescribing data. Allegedly, mine is shielded, but some reps still seem to be able to access it. Quoting to me (or showing me graphs) as to how much of your product I’m writing vs. another company’s is rude. I will make my decisions based on my patients’ needs, not your sales figures.

9. Selling to my patients. They see enough direct-to-consumer advertising on TV. And magazines. And online. If they ask you questions, I have no problem with you answering them, but don’t start randomly handing them your sales brochures and telling them your drug is better than whatever I have them on.

10. Telling me that my prescribing your drug can help improve your salary or bonus. Like I don’t know that. But, again, that doesn’t and shouldn’t ever factor in to how I manage a patient. Their health, not your car payments, is my concern.

I don’t think I’m unreasonable. Like them, I have a job to do. And, at my office, the patients will always be my priority. As it should be.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

I generally like drug reps. Some doctors don’t want to deal with them, but I don’t mind. Most are people just trying to support their families, like me. I don’t do lunches anymore, but I never mind briefly chatting and signing for samples.

I’ve fired a few, though. Obviously, I can’t get them tossed from their jobs, but I tell them to never set foot in my office again.

What sort of things really tick me off?

1. Excessive pushiness. Yes, I know you have to sell a product. But endlessly emphasizing it and asking for my support is irritating. I signed for your samples.

2. Not respecting time constraints. Most reps know that doctors only have a few seconds to sign and exchange a few words and respect that, but some will chatter on about their drug at length, even when I’m obviously trying to run to see a patient. My responsibility is to those who need my help, not to those trying to show me a slick iPad graphic.

3. Stalking me. I’ve had reps follow me over to the hospital and out to my car while still talking. Don’t make me get a restraining order.

4. Wasting my staff’s time. My awesome receptionist is very busy. She also is not the one prescribing your product. Do not interfere with her job by rambling about your drug’s dosing, mechanism of action, plan coverage, or pretty much anything. I am paying her. You aren’t. She has a patient to check out, 12 things to fax, an MRI to schedule, and two calls on hold. When you are done talking to me, you are done here. Pack up your bag and move on.

5. Overt rudeness to me and my staff. Believe it or not, I’ve had reps blatantly accuse my secretary of lying to them about such things as not scheduling lunches or not needing samples. Telling her to just “get the doctor” won’t get you anywhere. She runs the office up front, and if you cross her you won’t get to me, either. I will back her up every time.

6. Trespassing. Back before we installed a lock on the door between the lobby and office, I had a rep just walk on back without checking in with the staff. He came to my office and interrupted me with a patient. If your company encourages this, you should work somewhere else. This is a fast way to be told to get out and never come back.

7. Discuss politics. You are welcome to your viewpoints. So am I. They have no place in the interaction between a doctor and a rep. Around the 2012 election, one rep expressed viewpoints that were extreme to the point of being delusional. When she discovered that none of us agreed with her, she became quite angry and confrontational. I told her to never come back.

8. Whip out my prescribing data. Allegedly, mine is shielded, but some reps still seem to be able to access it. Quoting to me (or showing me graphs) as to how much of your product I’m writing vs. another company’s is rude. I will make my decisions based on my patients’ needs, not your sales figures.

9. Selling to my patients. They see enough direct-to-consumer advertising on TV. And magazines. And online. If they ask you questions, I have no problem with you answering them, but don’t start randomly handing them your sales brochures and telling them your drug is better than whatever I have them on.

10. Telling me that my prescribing your drug can help improve your salary or bonus. Like I don’t know that. But, again, that doesn’t and shouldn’t ever factor in to how I manage a patient. Their health, not your car payments, is my concern.

I don’t think I’m unreasonable. Like them, I have a job to do. And, at my office, the patients will always be my priority. As it should be.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

I generally like drug reps. Some doctors don’t want to deal with them, but I don’t mind. Most are people just trying to support their families, like me. I don’t do lunches anymore, but I never mind briefly chatting and signing for samples.

I’ve fired a few, though. Obviously, I can’t get them tossed from their jobs, but I tell them to never set foot in my office again.

What sort of things really tick me off?

1. Excessive pushiness. Yes, I know you have to sell a product. But endlessly emphasizing it and asking for my support is irritating. I signed for your samples.

2. Not respecting time constraints. Most reps know that doctors only have a few seconds to sign and exchange a few words and respect that, but some will chatter on about their drug at length, even when I’m obviously trying to run to see a patient. My responsibility is to those who need my help, not to those trying to show me a slick iPad graphic.

3. Stalking me. I’ve had reps follow me over to the hospital and out to my car while still talking. Don’t make me get a restraining order.

4. Wasting my staff’s time. My awesome receptionist is very busy. She also is not the one prescribing your product. Do not interfere with her job by rambling about your drug’s dosing, mechanism of action, plan coverage, or pretty much anything. I am paying her. You aren’t. She has a patient to check out, 12 things to fax, an MRI to schedule, and two calls on hold. When you are done talking to me, you are done here. Pack up your bag and move on.

5. Overt rudeness to me and my staff. Believe it or not, I’ve had reps blatantly accuse my secretary of lying to them about such things as not scheduling lunches or not needing samples. Telling her to just “get the doctor” won’t get you anywhere. She runs the office up front, and if you cross her you won’t get to me, either. I will back her up every time.

6. Trespassing. Back before we installed a lock on the door between the lobby and office, I had a rep just walk on back without checking in with the staff. He came to my office and interrupted me with a patient. If your company encourages this, you should work somewhere else. This is a fast way to be told to get out and never come back.

7. Discuss politics. You are welcome to your viewpoints. So am I. They have no place in the interaction between a doctor and a rep. Around the 2012 election, one rep expressed viewpoints that were extreme to the point of being delusional. When she discovered that none of us agreed with her, she became quite angry and confrontational. I told her to never come back.

8. Whip out my prescribing data. Allegedly, mine is shielded, but some reps still seem to be able to access it. Quoting to me (or showing me graphs) as to how much of your product I’m writing vs. another company’s is rude. I will make my decisions based on my patients’ needs, not your sales figures.

9. Selling to my patients. They see enough direct-to-consumer advertising on TV. And magazines. And online. If they ask you questions, I have no problem with you answering them, but don’t start randomly handing them your sales brochures and telling them your drug is better than whatever I have them on.

10. Telling me that my prescribing your drug can help improve your salary or bonus. Like I don’t know that. But, again, that doesn’t and shouldn’t ever factor in to how I manage a patient. Their health, not your car payments, is my concern.

I don’t think I’m unreasonable. Like them, I have a job to do. And, at my office, the patients will always be my priority. As it should be.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.