Amy Plano, The Reimbursement Dietitian’s Post

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 🤷🏽♀️ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡? 🤔 Reships can lead to significant financial loss for specialty pharmacies. But with proper planning and staff training, they can be avoided or minimized. 𝐓𝐨𝐩 3 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫: 
🌧️ Inclement Weather
 📍 Incorrect Address
 💊 Compromised Medication Integrity 3 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬: 🔹 Strategic Planning
 🔹 Staff Training and Coaching
 🔹 Team Accountability Pharmacies should be proactive in preventing reships by discussing these issues regularly in team meetings. Set measurable goals to reduce reships, and celebrate success when goals are met! Most importantly, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬—track and analyze reship trends to stay ahead. I work with organizations that dispense and administer specialty medications to help them increase revenue and improve patient care through staff training and loss prevention strategies. Interested in learning more about how I can help your pharmacy? Contact me at info@deannacarolsmith.com. #specialtypharmacy #specialtypharmacyconsultant #specialtyatretail #specialtymedications

➡️When I first started my practice, I was in a full-time dietetic internship and also working 25 hours as a nanny. I know they say NEVER work during your internship 👈 🙃And now I know why. It nearly killed me 😵 🍹Plus, I was bartending on Friday night, slinging margaritas. With what limited time I had left (there was not much!) I would see patients at coffee shops & libraries (I had no office!) at all sorts of odd hours, either after I got off work at 7:30 pm or on the rare weekends we interns were not on call 😬 🥴Like WTF. We were working for FREE but you have the balls to put us ‘on-call.’ 😡 😵💫That is some bullshit if you ask me. Also, that same year my younger brother got killed in a car accident 😔 🫠 So you add sheer devastation, on top of exhaustion & coupled with getting treated like an indentured servant & all I can say was life sucked. But this chick right here had a dream 😎 🫵Like many of you. I was willing to do whatever it took to achieve my dream of running a highly profitable insurance-based practice 📋 🤩Rather than throw my hands up in the air & say ‘f*ck that noise,’ I kept my eye on the prize & tightened my ponytail & did whatever it took to make shit happen. So my advice to you is to set realistic expectations 😅 ⏰There is a good chance your climb to creating a profitable insurance-based private company will require long, untraditional hours and working around other people’s schedules. But after all the blood, sweat & tears, it will be all worth it 🥳 🧐Are any other RDs deep in this struggle of juggling a million & one things while growing your practice? What actions are you taking to ‘fight the fight’ even when life gets messy? 🤺 👇Drop them in the comments below 👇 Let’s support our fellow RDs in this universal struggle to create something great 👯♀️👯♀️

This #ApprenticeshipWeek our dietetic #Apprentices Leah and Lucy reflect on their first year 💙 As they approach their 2nd year, they share what they've been up to and also what the future holds. Join them ➡ https://lnkd.in/eiMCfSGT

In my recent exploration of “Ego Is the Enemy,” I’ve uncovered thought-provoking insights that deeply resonate with the challenges and perceptions faced by registered dietitians like myself. One key observation highlighted in the book is the subtle yet pervasive sense of entitlement that can infiltrate our mindset as dietitians. We may find ourselves feeling deserving of more recognition, fueled by the extensive schooling and rigorous 1200-hour dietetic internship we undergo. However, it’s crucial to remain grounded and prioritize humility over egoism in our interactions and endeavors. Additionally, the distinction between dietitians and nutritionists often becomes a point of contention within our profession. It’s common for us to feel the need to correct individuals who use these terms interchangeably, emphasizing the unique qualifications and scope of practice associated with each title. However, let’s shift our focus towards fostering understanding and collaboration rather than fixating on semantics. Another pertinent issue addressed in “Ego Is the Enemy” is the bias towards health coaches lacking formal degrees, particularly bachelors and masters. While our academic achievements hold significant value, it’s imperative to acknowledge and respect the diverse pathways individuals take to contribute meaningfully to the field of health and wellness. Embracing inclusivity and valuing alternative perspectives enriches our collective knowledge and strengthens our community. As registered dietitians, we have the opportunity to leverage these insights to cultivate a more empathetic, collaborative, and inclusive environment within our profession. Let’s challenge ourselves to prioritize humility, foster mutual respect, and celebrate the diverse contributions that each member brings to the table. #RegisteredDietitians #HealthandWellness #Humility #Inclusivity #Collaboration #ProfessionalDevelopment

Step one of medical basics training is done, and now it's time to move forward with further studies in nutritional therapy. 💪 Along with that, I'm continuing my apprenticeship as a chef 👨🍳. It's important to always focus on your goals, and I'm excited to see where this journey takes me! #medicaltraining #paralleltraining #nutritionaltherapy #apprenticeship #chef #goals#

Thoughts on RD exam price/bundle voucher and extended exam time… It’s disappointing to see this news on National Nutrition Month when we celebrate the work of RDs and DTRs and the impact nutrition has on people and communities. As a person that has come across a multitude of challenges pursuing a career to become a RD it’s frustrating that people in power fail to see or choose to ignore the root problem a lack of diversity in the profession. To offer a discounted price for interns to take the exam twice is absurd. The question should be, why does it take interns more than one time to pass the exam? Why are passing rates low on first tries? They are obviously noticing rates that led them to offer a discount, like why does it have to be so hard to pass the exam on the first try? Have they not made pursuing this career a hard enough choice with all the requirements and GPAs? If there is an intention to diversify this field, I believe this is straying away from that purpose. The need for RDs of color and RDs in general in environments like historically disadvantages communities and in hospital where majority of patients speak another language is great! We need to do better! Here are my thoughts on how taking the exam can be a better experience for interns and future interns planning to take the exam: -Include a mandatory rotation as part of the intern curriculum that focuses on passing the RD EXAM specifically. -Make the first attempt free for all interns within a certain time after graduating from the internship. -Eliminating the exam portion! (What does a passing score tell you about the potential an intern has to be a successful RD? Nothing! It just tells you how well they are at taking a test and how much money and time they had into studying for an exam. Then there’s the numerous test prep programs with outrages prices and you’re left to decide what to invest in after spending thousands of dollars in an internship) In theme of this year’s national nutrition month, I invite those sitting on the table making decisions to think beyond the table. Think about those that are affected by the decisions being made on the table and those that don’t have a chair on that table. Just some thoughts 😉 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics #eatrightpro #rd2be #dtr #dietetics

Very interesting perspective on the new changes to the RD Exam. What do you think about the new changes?

We all started here.. a student who completed a ton of hard work at the University and then the internship.. Next, the big hurdle of the national RD exam! What do you do? How do you best prepare yourself to become credentialed and able to start your career? Help us, help students with a scholarship to a successful training program and provide the ability to enter the workforce as soon as possible. We all know the market is short dietitians. Help us, help future dietitians -#Dietitians4Dietitians

Month 7 of comm serv! 😭💊 This journey has been a true rollercoster. Coming from a tertiary hospital, where I completed my internship, and now being at a smaller district hospital has been challenging (you would assume it would be the other way around!😅). But here’s a few things I have learnt so far: 💊 Medicine shortages are a thing. Working at a big, tertiary hospital where almost every medication was available, and then coming to a smaller district hospital really opened my eyes to some realities of the public healthcare system. 💊 You work with what you have. I believe I cannot explain this, you just have to go through it to understand. 💊 You will, unfortunately, have to ration out medication supply. This disturbed me so much when I first started, but as time goes, you get to understand why some things are the way they are. 💊 Compassion. Patients come from all walks of life, and the last thing they want is a healthcare provider that is not concerned about their well-being. Go an extra mile, dismantle the “pharmacist always being behing the window” norm and go out the pharmacy to dispense to that patient in crutches/ a wheelchair that is struggling to get to the dispensary window. 💊 You can never know enough. There is always room to improve, learn more, do more, and be more. One of the qualities of being a pharmacist is being a life-long learner, and we owe it to our patients to keep abreast with new information so that we remain competent and able to serve them to the best of our abilities 💊💗💗 5 more months. Let’s go!!!!

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 30 years since I stood on the steps of the Bulfinch Building at Massachusetts General Hospital, graduating from my dietetic internship. (I’m in the second row, far left.) Today, many young dietitians are entering the field with very different expectations than I had. My goal was to be a good clinical pediatric dietitian. To take good care of my young patients and their families. To help them thrive and grow despite serious, chronic illness. Over the years, my goals have changed. From running a full-time private practice to writing my 6th book (Kids Thrive at Every Size), I’ve evolved in my career. Today, dietitians are making their mark in different ways. They’re reaching families on social media as influencers. They’re running online and/or brick-and-mortar businesses. They have virtual practices, online educational resources, and provide consultation to food companies, helping them make meaningful products for kids. It’s been amazing to watch the evolution of my profession and how times have changed. Yes, back in the day we wore lab coats. Today, not so much! What remains true for me, and maybe all of us in nutrition, is the desire to help others nourish themselves and their families in ways that reflect an individual’s priorities and constraints, the commitment to science and evidence (over opinion), and professionalism. How have you witnessed change in the field of nutrition over the years? As a professional? As a parent?