Optum

06/25/xx

Optum Pharmacy 701, LLC
PHAR.CF.61009053
8131 W Bostian Rd, Ste A350
Woodinville, WA 98072
Attn: Sepideh Soleimanpour, Pharmacy Manager
PH00039686

Quality Commission

I am accustomed to seeing the initials of the pharmacist on the label. On this label, Optum printed more than just the initials.
I see:
RPH:EFurtado

I read this to mean:
Registered Pharmacist E (first initial) Furtado (last name)
I had to guess. Did I guess right?

To the best of my knowledge, this is not explained to the customer/consumer/me anywhere.

Does Optum publish any kind of written material (handbook, pamphlet, etc) that explains to a customer, i.e., me, how to read one of your pharmacy labels? Does the pharmacy manager at Optum Pharmacy 701, LLC just assume that everyone who reads one of the labels will know what RPH stands for? It probably seems obvious to you. Or perhaps, if they don't know, then they don't need to know. Is that it?

Please correct me if I am wrong. I think Optum is the only pharmacy that prints the last name of the pharmacist on the label.

In this example, the name of the pharmacist is Eric Furtado.

I have another example, from OptumRx in Carlsbad, CA. The label says:
RPH:EPaau

Pharmacist name is Elizabeth Paau.

Both of these labels have defective dates. I am unable to read the year.

On or about July 26, 2017, in case number Cl 2016 74253, the California St. Board issued a Letter of Admonishment to Shawn Bjorndal pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 4315 for violating Business and Professions Code section 4073, subdivision (b), dispensing an unauthorized substitution of a generic drug and California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 1717.4, subdivision (h) and Health & Safety Code section 11164, subdivision (b)(1), in that he failed to validate the security, integrity and authority of controlled substances prescriptions while employed at another pharmacy.

A year later, on or about July 3, 2018, he got another one. In case number C1 2017 80410, the Board issued a Letter of Admonishment to Shawn Bjorndal pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 4315 for violating Business and Professions Code section 733, in that he obstructed the dispensing of prescription drugs.

On or about February 10, 2021, the Board issued Citation number CI 2018 84425 against OptumRx for engaging in unprofessional conduct in that it obstructed a patient from speaking to a pharmacist, then referred the patient to a pharmacist not licensed in California and located at a call center which was not licensed in California as a non-resident pharmacy. The Board issued a fine that OptumRx paid.

On or about February 10, 2021, the Board issued Citation number CI 2020 90096 against Shawn Jason Bjorndal for engaging in unprofessional conduct, in that he obstructed a patient from speaking to a pharmacist, then referred the patient to a pharmacist not licensed in California and located at a call center which was not licensed in California as a non-resident pharmacy. Shawn Jason Bjorndal did not appeal the Citation.

On or about September 13, 2018, the Board issued Citation number CI 2017 77718 against OptumRx for engaging in acts of dishonesty as defined by Business and Professions Code section 4301, subdivision (f). The Board issued a fine that OptumRx paid.

On January 3, 2017, Shawn Bjorndal took over as the Pharmacist-in-Charge (PIC) of OptumRx at Carlsbad, CA. His California pharmacy license number is 65593.

Phentermine label 4/11/21 sent via Fedex . Michelle Martin wrote the scrip . OptumRx in Carlsbad, CA was the pharmacy. Elizabeth Paau, California pharmacist license RPH 71864

Shawn Jason Bjorndal RPH 65593 FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS 31. Since January 3, 2017, Shawn Bjorndal has been the Pharmacist-in-Charge (PIC) of OptumRx. At all relevant times herein, PIC Bjorndal and OptumRx (collectively Respondents) dispensed prescription drugs to patients via mail or overnight delivery services.

OptumRx, Carlsbad
Colorado Stip

California stip 12/23/16 (old) by Kamala D Harris, AG
The Cal Stip gives examples from 4 patients: Christopher O., Suzanne S., Jody M., and Anne M.

This is what they said about patient Suzanne S.:
On or about May 23, 2014, Dr. Christopher M. prescribed 90 tablets of Zetia with directions to take 1 tablet daily with 3 additional refills. On or about August 19, 2014, patient Suzanne S. requested a refill of her prescription for Zetia 10 mg from Respondent. On the order form, she requested that the medication be delivered to an alternate address.

Respondents processed her order and charged her credit card shortly thereafter. Suzanne S. did not receive her medication. On August 30, 2014, Suzanne S. contacted Respondents to inquire about the status of her medication. She was informed that her medication had not been sent to her alternative address and that her medication would be reshipped to her. Suzanne S. did not receive her medication. On September 9, 2014, Suzanne S.'s husband contacted Respondents again to inquire about the status of her medication. He was informed that another error had occurred and her 4 Accusation medication had not shipped. He was promised that it would be shipped via an overnight delivery service and delivered by September 10 or 11, 2014. Suzanne S. did not receive her medication. On September 12, 2014, Suzanne S.'s husband contacted Respondents.

He was informed that Respondents would attempt to arrange for the medication to be delivered expeditiously on a Saturday and that an individual from "corporate" would contact her regarding her medication within 24 hours.

Suzanne S. did not receive her medication nor did anyone from "corporate" contact her.

On September 13, 2014, Suzanne S.'s husband received a telephone call from Respondents who told her that her medication would be shipped possibly on September 15, 2014. On September 16, 2014, Suzanne S. received her medication from Respondents.

This will give you the general idea of what the other 3 patient stories have to say.

California stip recent
Shawn Bjorndal, California pharmacy license number 65593
E Paau, California pharmacy license number xxxxx

Thanks in advance

I live in Aurora, Colorado. On 6/2/23 I called 360 236 4700 with questions about the attached prescription , and they referred me to this email address.

Philip G Rice
11268 E Linvale Dr
Aurora, CO 80014

(970) 235-0470
phil.rice@mkgappraisal.com

cc:
Umair Shah, Secretary of Health
HSQA c/o Lois
Jay Inslee, Governor
WSPAQ wspqac@doh.wa.gov

-- End of Letter --

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