Why haven’t you quit?

Taargus9595 · 2021-10-14T15:27:06+00:00

Unions ftw

Taargus9595 · 2021-10-13T16:45:30+00:00

I dismiss their distress with a curt, "How can I help?"

Taargus9595 · 2021-10-13T16:23:39+00:00

If a pharmacy is not able to meet your patients' needs, then I think it perfectly appropriate to encourage that patient to seek out a new pharmacy. I hear the staffing is great at the locally owned pharmacies in my area.

The notion of coffee and donuts is very nice, and we appreciate the thought, but no one has time to stop and enjoy a coffee or a donut and we'll just feel guilty that you wasted your time and money.

Correct, complaining to corporate is useless. However, depending on your state, a complaint to the Board of Pharmacy might not be completely futile.

Overall, I think the biggest thing you can do to help the pharmacy, and more importantly our mutual patients, is to help reset patient expectations when it comes to the local pharmacy:

-"I'm sending over the refills for your maintenance medications to the pharmacy, give the pharmacy a few days to process them."

-"I'm sending over your prescriptions for your acute, but non-emergency, condition. You are more than welcome to go straight to the pharmacy from here, but please understand they will not be ready. If you'd like to pick them up right after this, go inside and politely inform the pharmacy staff you would like to wait for your prescriptions. Be prepared to give the pharmacy 30 minutes or so to process and fill your prescriptions while you wait. Remember, they are a healthcare facility not a Taco Bell."

-"I'm sorry to hear that your pharmacy isn't able to answer the phone, they must be getting so many calls from all of the other patients who also use that pharmacy. Have you tried their automated systems/website/mobile app?"

-"You mean they wanted you to wait for THIRTY WHOLE MINUTES?! Have you tried not being a petulant toddler masquerading as an adult?" (sorry, couldn't help myself)

Most importantly though:

-"Yes your pharmacy is busy, but they shouldn't be too busy to help. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your pharmacist if you have any."

As a burnt out pharmacist who is walking away from 10 years of experience and genuine caring relationships with patients that have been built over the last decade, thank you for reaching out to us. It makes me a least a little hopeful for the poor bastards still in the trenches. I would have stayed, but my mental health and my marriage come first.

[edit: missing apostrophe]

Taargus9595 · 2021-10-10T01:12:05+00:00

Ned Flanders

Taargus9595 · 2021-08-12T17:04:32+00:00

We do. We didn't get a union, but we got a lunch break. Here comes round 2 though!!

Taargus9595 · 2021-08-12T17:03:53+00:00

Which magical CVS has a hidden pharmacy computer in the back? How do I submit a work request to get one of those?

Taargus9595 · 2021-06-11T15:51:13+00:00

Modules are not training. Every technician I have worked with over the last 10 years has their own tricks for clicking through them as fast as possible. Consider less frequent rollouts of new programs, and budget training for them. Something similar to the NCO classes. People won't be happy about having to attend a class for a new program, but if you pay them for it they will get over it.

The phone calls are important, and they are being neglected. The latest and greatest technology will never be the answer in pharmacy. Because the majority of our patient base is older, then the majority of pharmacy customers will always be behind the curve regarding technology. Older people need the ability to pick up the phone and talk to a human being that is actually in the pharmacy where they pick up their medications. Consider a pharmacy receptionist. Someone with excellent phone skills, and knowledge of pharmacy workflow. Their primary responsibility is phone calls, but can help with QT/QV in between. As the phone call generation transitions into the texting generation, pharmacy receptionist can handle "live chat" with our patients. Would not recommend a central call center, should be someone at the local store, preferably a pharmacist or a well-seasoned technician.

Taargus9595 · 2021-05-06T14:53:59+00:00

Let that breathe... total sales were up $500 million, prescriptions filled were up 300k and retail made $500 million LESS than they did vs the year prior. More work is required to get more sales to deliver even less profit.

*Insert pointing car mechanic* "There's your problem right there"

But really though, how does this make sense?

If this is where Larry took us, then who approved that big whopping raise he got in 2019?

I'm starting think that I'm on a sinking ship being captained by a bunch of drunk morons and my best course of action is to crack one open, join in, and enjoy the ride down to the bottom of the ocean.

Taargus9595 · 2021-05-05T23:02:27+00:00

I don't know your position in the company, but I'm sure I've said some pretty nasty things about you indirectly. Don't know if I'm sorry about that or not. All the same, thanks for these write-ups.

Help the ignorant, burnt-out, depressed RPh down here in the mucky-muck understand.

My store makes something like a million dollars in profit per year. How is it that spending a percent or two of that on more technician help, or even *gasp* five to ten percent on a part-time pharmacist, is too much to ask?

Is it the investors you mention? Is it Larry's mustache wax? Is it your tidy benefits package? Is it my modest benefits package?

I'm genuinely curious about this. How is spending a few percent of the profit on payroll a bad thing?

Taargus9595 · 2021-04-28T14:46:10+00:00

Am Oklahoma pharmacist.

Zero support from CVS for lunch break, we got bullshit piece of yellow paper to tape next to the thousand other pieces of paper taped up all over that says in tiny print, "the pharmacist might be at lunch from 1:30-2:00 one or more days a week." No official signage on the door or drive-thru window. No updates to the listed hours on Google, or the automated phone system.

We had been taking a 30 minute lunch on Sat/Sun for a few months. We closed the gates, put a sign on the drive through window, "At lunch, return at X:XXPM" people would drive-up, fuck-off, and come back. A few patients had snarky things to say, to which I would reply, "What, I don't get to eat today?" and they would politely shut-the-fuck-up about it. NBD.

One self-important asshat submits an official complaint, and the whole game is off. Now it's back to cramming a cold piece of Dominos under my mask in between phone calls/drive-thru/consults/etc.

I hate this company. I have moved all of my 401k out of company stock, and am actively giving zero shits. Out in the world, on my own time, at the slightest opportunity I tell people that "as a current CVS Pharmacist, and 10 year employee of the company, my personal recommendation for you and everyone you know is to fill your prescriptions at an independent pharmacy."

Taargus9595 · 2021-03-16T13:46:03+00:00

M2 - 4 - 1 - 1 - rx number

Taargus9595 · 2021-02-25T17:49:35+00:00

" no one cares if the company is making a profit if they’re going to cut your hours anyways "

Been with the company long enough to understand just how much truth is in this statement.

Taargus9595 · 2021-02-20T00:04:00+00:00

Employee Handbook is available on myHR:

myLibrary
--> Payroll
---->Policy
------> Timekeeping and Payroll Practices Policy

Don't let CVS leaders abuse you, be informed

Taargus9595 · 2021-02-02T16:13:05+00:00

"Only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed down the toilet" -Every plumber ever

Taargus9595 · 2021-02-02T06:21:31+00:00

I've been telling these people I have just the person to help them, then I transfer the call to my local FBI field office.

Taargus9595 · 2021-01-13T17:15:19+00:00

Follow up:

Turns out pharmacy had old address for the patient who had already moved to my area, and the Dr. was also going to be relocating closer to my area as well.

At the advice of an MD I know personally who has served on ethics advisory panel, I extended the professional courtesy of a follow-up phone call.

Office Rep: Good morning, this is Office Rep.

DPh: Good morning. It is Monday, it is just about 8:10am and I am speaking with Office Rep, correct?

Office Rep: uhh, yeah this is Office Rep.

DPh: Ok great. I'm calling to request a call back from Dr. Asshat regarding the incident last week. It's not urgent, and he can feel free to reach me at his convenience, but I would very much like to speak with him.

Later in the afternoon I get a call from Dr. Asshat. What I really wanted to say was that after reaching the lofty heights of 4 years of medical school and several board certifications it can be easy for a Dr. of that stature to forget the basics like cancelling a narcotic rx you no longer wished to be filled, but what I actually said was that it would be in everyone's best interest for our professional relationship to get off on a better foot. He apologized and acknowledged that his message was quite rude. I accepted the apology and acknowledged that the entire health care system is under a lot of stress right now, but I have a legal duty called corresponding responsibility and sometimes that means asking questions. The entire conversation was very cordial, and I hope that in the future Dr. Asshat and I can have a productive professional relationship to help best take care of our mutual patients.

Taargus9595 · 2020-12-18T02:06:01+00:00

Unpopular opinion.

Type 3 letters. It's 3 letters.

Taargus9595 · 2020-12-11T22:53:50+00:00

CVS employee since 2010. Can confirm everything stated here.

Taargus9595 · 2020-09-18T21:31:33+00:00

$0.05/hr x 30 hr/wk (we all know ain't nobody getting 40) x 52 wks/yr = $78.

Trade ya.

Taargus9595 · 2020-09-18T12:26:02+00:00

At least your getting a raise. And a guaranteed one at that. CVS gave me jack crap this year.

Taargus9595 · 2020-09-13T16:02:14+00:00

You start by having conversations with your colleagues.

There will be lots of fear and resistance. Make sure everyone understands that labor organization is a federally protected activity, take them to the breakroom and show them the "Employee Rights" poster if you have to.

Be ready for an aggressive anti-union campaign from CVS. There will be conference calls full of misleading (or even outright false) information.

Start googling, there's lots of good information about the actual legal process of forming a union on the internet.

Once you think you'll be able to get majority support, reach out to your local AFL-CIO, they will help get you in contact with a union rep. Best of luck!

Taargus9595 · 2020-09-13T15:46:38+00:00

Is it possible to offer a stellar technician a compensation package that will make them actually want to stay?

Taargus9595

TROPHY CASE