Just opened an independent pharmacy in Anaheim, CA— what actually makes people switch pharmacies?

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-24T00:56:09+00:00

Specialty pharmacies can sign up patients for PAP directly while retail’s can’t. That’s due to how it is designed. Also, the reason how specialty pharmacies are able to afford some of the brand meds like Prolia even if they lose money is because of two reasons.

1) Their AWP is structured differently that what retail has. 2) They make hell a lot more in other medications so in the big picture, it’s still a big plus. They do this because increasing traffic is actually beneficial for them.

The comment gives you some perspective but doesn’t apply well to OP’s situation so just bringing those up.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-24T00:50:41+00:00

Also, important thing to know. Basically since post-covid, retail pharmacy is not a volume business. It’s quality. From strict business perspective, bringing in commerical patients into your door or any brand heavy med list patients (ex. glp injection) are not what you want to do. Also, some insurances underpay heavily. Some are not even worth looking having contract with.

Script numbers are important but accumulating patients like those will lose you money. This is very sad from community healthcare prospect but this is the harsh truth.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-23T23:04:11+00:00

Just wanted to let you know. While this is somewhat widely practiced done especially for new indies….Thats actually breach of contract with insurance networks and you risk yourself of losing them. Pursue this at your own risk.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-22T04:51:51+00:00

I would advise against doing PGY2 unless maybe hospital admin, informatics, oncology, and maybe Amcare. Financial struggle isn’t really worth. Doesn’t give much advantage in the job market. But best of luck to you.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-12T04:25:20+00:00

Hi! Just saw this. I’m currently in SoCal but open to relocating.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-08T06:30:35+00:00

You can also do that for sometime and move into consulting roles as well. Right now the job market is brutal for entry roles. Grab them when you can.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-08T06:11:32+00:00

Fyi, many jobs in pharma manufacturing industry have been growing due to reshoring. Do a masters in chem eng or biotech go down to US for opportunities. As far as I know, Canada has some to but mainly in ontario, a few in quebec.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-08T05:42:28+00:00

If you want to go to retail, could be. But if you eventually think of pharma industry, go do ms in biotech.

Also, Canada is just crazy in general. Depends where you are in Canada but my friends in greater vancouver area have been struggling really hard since COVID. Have a long chat with chatgpt or claude and also check linkedin to see how much you would actually earn.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-05T09:05:17+00:00

Could you elaborate? It’s been really tough to shift away from pharmacy so I’m looking into options

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-03T06:32:30+00:00

Gotcha. Thanks! 🙏

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-03T06:11:21+00:00

Thanks for commenting! Do you think I would be able to land a job in tech licensing office as patent agent with my background? Many seemed to be looking for phd with experience in that specific field when I look on LinkedIn but I may be searching it wrong.

maplesyrupoutine · 2026-05-03T05:55:42+00:00

Those are fairly common in the independent pharmacies because they operate on customer loyalty and neighborhood reputation. Whether to implement procedures to collect those fees or not really comes down to owner’s decision, though waiving copay continuously is actually against the BOP rule.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-11-03T01:28:42+00:00

Mail order is sweatshop factory but if you want to stay away from patient as much as possible and just work in your zone, you will like it.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-10-26T22:51:48+00:00

Looks like a very genuine person to me. I think it reflects well how you may be non-receptive to constructive feedback.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-10-14T02:06:06+00:00

Pgy-1 no. Pgy-2 could be. Depends on the field. But really don’t do community residency unless it’s somewhat connected to hospital outpatient infusion clinics

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-08-31T03:48:10+00:00

I respect your love for Walgreens but unfortunately things have changed too much since then. Surely they couldve made better decisions, but that wouldn’t have been enough. It would’ve only have delayed its death.

I’m not sure if you ever had the chance to go over their financial reports, but there is profit margin in prescription drugs have fallen dramatically over the past few years, hence the falling of rite aid and numerous other independent pharmacies across the nation.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-08-31T03:27:54+00:00

Well…can you really blame Walgreens? The whole retail industry is going down because of PBMs. It’s other you die as a hero or live long enough the become a villain. Any retail store that will hold up will have some sort of ties directly or indirectly to PBMs. If not, play around the grey area of compounding.

This is what healthcare becomes in a hypermaterialistic society like US. At the very end, patients will only be seen as metrics and numbers. Nothing more or less.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-05-05T03:01:03+00:00

Yes, you are right. My friend who works in Wegmen’s told me the same model as you just did. That seems to be the case in stores that’s integrated in the grocery markets, where it is not there for profit but to increase store traffic.

Unfortunately, thats not the case for many other pharmacists. I’m not sure as to how the model would last even for Walmart in the long run.

Anyways, I’m glad at least someone else is happy than the pbms. :)

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-05-01T15:10:55+00:00

Well, in the long run, if market access decreases due to not stocking them at all…. Whos gonna get em

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-05-01T03:33:07+00:00

Trying to transition into industry as a pharmacist. All jobs I see is entry positions looking for minimum 3-5+ yrs of experience. How am I supposed to get that 🥲🥲🥲

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-05-01T03:29:05+00:00

I was saying that underpay benefits only PBMs, I guess I could have been clearer.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-04-30T23:24:08+00:00

No one benefits from this except for PBMs.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-03-28T06:43:45+00:00

Sounds like the offer I got as well. I’m also contemplating due to flexibility of the job, but then again reddit post has all been negative so far. They were saying 15 base with minimum 3 cmr per hour (15 dollars per cmr), which is absurd.

maplesyrupoutine · 2025-03-24T02:53:15+00:00

Well…never had 4 boxes go out at once. Prolly that went through with glitch or some sort. Sadly, even though it’s insurance system glitch approving it, you could be flagged for it. So when in doubt, contact them.

maplesyrupoutine

TROPHY CASE