Pharmacist with the personality of a brick...

[patiokitty]

Actually, I think a brick would have more personality than this guy.

After school yesterday I had to get a prescription for Ventolin filled so I stopped in at the Zeller's near my place. I know the pharmacy there generally isn't very busy so it seemed like as good a place as any.

So, I go in and have both my prescription and my insurance card ready (I have extended medical through my university that covers a large chunk of any prescription cost). I expect to be asked questions because I've never gone in here before to get a prescription but the guy was very short with me and seemed almost put out that he had to enter any of my information into the computer.

He didn't even tell me how long I had to wait and barely addressed me at all as he grabbed my stuff and went about his business. Because I had no idea how long he was going to be I wandered around the area looking at the various vitamins, and as I was minding my own business an older gentleman came up with a prescription.

Holy hell, the pharmacist made like he was so rushed with orders. He sighed like he was so put upon and said in a monotone voice that it would be at least a half-hour before he could fill the prescription, blah blah blah. And then didn't bother answering any of the gentleman's questions! Poor guy looked like he was about in tears.

Once the pharmacist confirmed my extended medical insurance coverage all he had to do was grab the inhaler box off the shelf, check it, and print out stuff. And that was pretty much all he did. I didn't get any explanation about how to use it, or anything else for that matter. All he said to me, after motioning me over (he didn't call my name or anything else, was, "$4.10." Thank goodness I figured out that was my total or I'd probably still be staring at him.

I think I know why that particular pharmacy is so quiet...if he's the regular pharmacist I wouldn't want to go there either! When I get my next prescription (I know there will be another one in the next week) I'll try again, and if he's like that again I'll just go elsewhere. It's not like Zeller's is my only option, thankfully.

[Brojekk]

Now we know why they aren't that busy.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Sounds like one of the pharmacists at the swamp. No personality, and seems to be complained about fairly frequently.

[Anakah]

oh man. Definitely do NOT go back there again. When I went to CVS the girl I had took forever and kept talking to her co worker about her stupid teeth while I was standing there waiting for her to tell me I was done. I was angry cuz I was sick as hell and I almost told her to hurry up but she was doing something for me, I didn't want to piss her off but she was unprofessional about it.

They should always, ALWAYS ask if you have any questions. What a jerk. He should not doing that if he refuses to explain the meds! That's dangerous. Even though they do give you a pamphlet that explains a bit BUT people have questions about the crap that goes down their throat! Tell his boss??

[Sapphire Silk]

That he didn't offer to explain to you how to use an inhaler is disturbing. If you don't use them right, you won't get the benefit of the medication.

See if you can find another pharmacist to ask if you are new to inhalers.

[chainedbarista]

the rest of his actions, i could deal with (annoying, but i've had worse) but the lack of counseling on the drug's use? oh hell no...it's part of his damn job to let people know how to use, when to use and what not to mix it with. panacea has the right of it; find someone who actually cares if you know about using it right.

[bainsidhe]

A local supermarket is in a very low-income and shady area. It's also close to work, so I tend to use their pharmacy. I can't speak well of the supermarket, but hot dang their pharmacist rocks. He's this big, burly no-nonsense bear of a man, but is very patient and you can tell from his interaction that he cares deeply about his job and patients. I hope you find a much better pharmacist.

[HappyFun Ball]

The CVS I use has seen so much of me that they'll make my prescription a priority is I plan on waiting on it. They always ask me if I have any questions about my meds and will patiently answer any questions I have about them.. Yeah, I would not go back to Zellers again if that's the way they work.

[patiokitty]

I really am hoping that it was a one-off deal where the pharmacist was a colossal fail. I asked a friend about the service she got there last time and she said it was better than what I went through. Although I do remember her asking me about what it was safe to take with the SSRI meds she was put on...dude didn't give her time to ask any questions and she's so non-confrontational that she didn't try to make a point of getting that information. Ventolin is one thing and I've taken it in the past (long, long ago) but my friend had no clue about SSRIs...thankfully I've been on them and could give her a bit of heads-up but I shouldn't have to do the pharmacists job for them.

Yeah, I think I will be going elsewhere with my next prescription. There are a huge Lawton's Drugs, a 24-hr Shopper's Drug Mart, and a Sobey's grocery store w/pharmacy all near me. I'll deal with the line ups they usually have if it means I get decent service.

[patiokitty]

Bringing this up again :P

The friend in the above post had me go in with her yesterday when she went to pick up a prescription. Same pharmacist as the one I dealt with. And, whaddaya know? Same shit, different day. AND he forgot that she had a co-pay and was going to charge her the full amount for the prescription...even after she presented him with the insurance card. What got me is that she thought this was acceptable behaviour!

I won't be taking her word for anything anymore if this is any example. To me, his actions are anything but acceptable and I won't be going back. I told her the same thing.