The pharmacy at Walgreen's

[Applerod]

I have a few regular prescriptions (the pink ones keep me from screaming) I've been picking up at a local Walgreen's for years, and I've really come to appreciate how difficult it must be to work in the pharmacy. A) You're dealing with the general public, who B) Are not only standing in line but C) Occupying a two-lane drive through; plus D) Need their medications. The pharmacy staff is tasked with providing a form of medical assistance but required to enforce any number of protocols and restrictions before they even get to processing insurance and issuing the final cost -- as fast as possible. The staff is forced to weather the complaints, irritation, incredulity, abuse, hard-luck stories, pleadings to bend the rules.. from everyone who isn't noticeably intoxicated or totally out-of-control. They must explain and re-explain the hows, whys, why-nots, and every pharmacological, legal, and financial intricacy to people who are often already in physical or psychological distress. This is a hard job.
There's a very nice fellow who works there (new-ish, like everyone else). I've seen him take stress and abuse with an incredible amount of patience and thoughtfulness; (P.S. I hate that minority of old people who behave as if they're entitled to be insufferable pricks.) Anyways, the most recent time I was picking up my drugs he was having a hard time finding them because their lack of shelf space has forced them to use the floor as another "shelf". Eventually he found them and we just joked around for a minute, during which time he let out a hint he was not exactly crazy about his job. I asked him his name and was compelled to compliment him and tell him he's awesome. The compliment wasn't phrased particularly eloquently and I'm not sure he knew how to respond but it was just one of the those simple, well-deserved acts of kindness I hope brightened his day just a little bit.

[NimrodJess]

I absolutely ADORE my Walgreen's pharmacy here in town. I briefly contemplated switching to a different pharmacy... and about the time I did, I went to get my Rx filled, and my insurance had raised (DOUBLED!) the price. At the time, I was pregnant, not working, etc and didn't have a lot of money... so the pharmacist there dropped the price without me even asking and was like "By the way, your ins company raised the price, but we've taken care of that for you." And handed me my Rx.

[Lil Bunny]

That's one of the reasons I keep going back there for scripts even if they are just a bit more cost wise (for me...no insurance). The pharmacy team rocks!!! (Most everyone else is nice too.)

[Regulator]

Walgreens = Awesome

The Walgreens where I live is AWESOME. They always go the extra mile to help and make sure we know everything we need to know about our drugs.

One time, they were hesittant to answer a question because of confidentiality, ( I was asking about my wife's medicine, in particular, its half-life/duration of effect) and they said they couldnt tell me, though it was clear they wanted to, as they knew the confidentiality rule was never meant to be applied like that (it protects the patient, not the drug). I knew of one way to get round that though to keep their perfect record with me intact, and still be within the law.

I stated that a particular rule of the Board of Pharmacy required them to counsel the patient or caregiver (since I was the one who picked up the drug in the first place, and I was her husband, this would be reasonable to infer that I could be a "caregiver", though that term is not defined in the rule). The pharmacist or pharm. tech (not sure which) agreed with my interpretation and gave the information. I asked her name (intent on telling management she did excellent) but she respectfully declined saying she was uncertain whether she had just broken the regulations.

I replied "All you did is follow the law, and give information as required. The confidientiality provision and the counseling provision are both badly written. I am most certainly NOT going to call a penalty on something like that, and BOP (Board of Pharmacy) needs to get off their A** and change the rule before someone like you loses their job and/or license because of what I belive is the most horridly written rule I have seen!"

I later wrote a letter for walgreens to send to BOP asking for clarification of the rules in question. I am all for letting people do their jobs and serve customers without having to worry about PITA interpretations of badly written rules.

[Akasa]

That reminds me... I was supposed to go to Walgreens to day. They got in the perfume my grandmother wanted and only have 3. They're holding one for me.