As a fellow employee at a pharmacy I can tell you from personal experience that the team at this store is extremely knowledgeable about their position. As a retort to the other negative comments (which in retail are the only that go noticed) I'd like to point out some things that should be obvious to fellow shoppers that for some reason aren't common knowledge. There are 3 positions in a retail pharmacy setting: Pharmacy Service Associate, Pharmacy Technician, and Pharmacist. They rank in that order as well. The complaint about being "passed down the line of Pharmacists till you get to the one in charge" is a ridiculous assumption. There is only one Pharmacist on staff in most retail stores depending on the volume of the store. The only person who can LEGALLY answer any questions is the Pharmacist and there is a designated area in every store labeled "consultation". It is there that the Pharmacist will discuss health issues related to your medications. Also there is this very interesting misconception where the customer believes that the pharmacist is capable of diagnosing ailments. That is what a doctor is for. A pharmacist's knowledge database is in the bio-availability of drugs and how they work in the body, NOT the ailments that cause the need for these drugs. It is amazing to me how often a pharmacist is asked to diagnose. They can give educated ADVICE based on experience and their understanding of how certain drugs will work for your symptoms based on the information you can give, however many prescribed drugs come from a specific diagnoses from your doctor. That information is hardly ever given to the pharmacist. It seems to me, that when most people go to their respected doctors for diagnosis, and are given a prescription - it is hardly ever discussed what the drug is or for, and since the pharmacy is set up in a customer oriented setting - the patient (who neglected to verify any concerns or questions with the person responsible for diagnosing and prescribing) is then asking the pharmacist why they were prescribed a certain medication. The pharmacist is not privileged to your chart or your medical history only your prescriptive history, and therefore not necessarily the person who is able to help you. That would be - surprise - your doctor.
In regards to the flu shot complaint - that should be quite obvious. Once again, within the 3 positions in pharmacy ONLY the pharmacist can deliver vaccinations. They can offer them daily, and will be willing to do so - but only when PHYSICALLY ABLE TO. Retail pharmacy is a time management practice. Prescriptions come into the pharmacy from all areas - phone, fax, electronic transmission. All of which need to be entered, transmitted and resolved with insurance, printed, filled, labeled, and organized in time order according to necessity and seriousness. A coughing asthmatic child should always be prioritized against a middle aged woman wanting her dietary supplement. A man whose insulin has run out do to an increase in dosage after an emergency visit to the hospital should always be prioritized against a man who has a date on Friday and wants his Cialis, and a young boy's pain medication after a car accident should always be prioritized against a FLU SHOT. The pharmacist is the last line in defense in something as serious as medication that can potentially be FATAL to customers, not given the proper judgement and time to verify these meds!
Doctors (contrary to popular belief) DO make mistakes, and they make them OFTEN. It is your pharmacy team's job to protect you from these mistakes and from other issues regarding your medication and insurance. There is no pharmacy team I have come in contact with that is more knowledgeable about medications or insurances. I have used this pharmacy locally outside of the one I work for, and from a professional standpoint, as someone who cares for the customers and understands the complexities of retail pharmacy from the inside out - The team at CVS Winsted are phenomenal.
Patience and understanding from the customer end should be commonplace in all retail. They are doing all they can to keep you safe and happy. What are you doing for them? read more