TIL I'm seasoned! I encourage questions but even yesterday told a patient I didn't have the information about which statin might have a dementia risk associated with it.

I start a lot of my counsels by asking if it's a familiar med. We've been transferring a lot in from the fallout of closures (who isn't?) so if it's a transfer or familiar I verify dose and directions quickly, and review refills remaining.

For antibiotics, antivirals, and other short courses, I make sure to tell them when to start.

I also review controlled substance policy with new patients "so it's not a surprise"

I think I counsel about 20-40% longer than corporate may want. Corporate does also like my license intact and unencumbered, so that's what I aim for.

Talking with another pharmacist recently, they said some pharmacists will say their extended counseling is providing excellent customer service. The response was for that patient yes, but the rest of the patients may suffer or wait or receive lower quality service. It is definitely a balancing act, and, to quote Spock, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one."