re: the least efficient service related business

cox, comcast, entergy..

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so what’s the deal? Why can’t counting and bottling pills (on doctors orders) be automated? A lot of times there’s not even any counting at all

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Most of the problems are from people that don’t pay for insurance bitching about prices (or that the price is not $0), and the majority of the rest are getting adderall or pain pills and think their life depends on it.

The large pharmacies also have phone call quotas trying to fill prescriptions/refills on file that people don’t think they actually need, along with seasonal shot quotas. They also want the pharmacist to be at the register at times (even though basically anyone in the store is qualified to do it) because of the “power of the white coat” or some bs.

And further, they are the last step in a long and inefficient process that has no gatekeeper, anyone can walk into one. You basically admitted that you show up there in a bad mood (which I understand), and you aren’t alone, many people have bad attitudes. And not to make this the doctors fault, but since you mentioned them, they make mistakes with drug interactions, pay no attention to to dates (for controlled substances that the pharmacist has liability over), don’t send things in, send them to the wrong pharmacy, etc. These are all problems the pharmacy has to solve

I get to hear about the barriers of pharmacists doing their actual jobs quite often because I live with one. My view is the big retailers completely hijacked the credential (which they make the pharmacist still pay for) to sell shite that people don’t need, which leads to tremendous inefficiency at the retail level, not to mention demoralization of otherwise highly educated people. They even want them to be able to write for certain things now. While I hear about shitty customers (mostly from the first group mentioned), I hear about the company and processes way more.

I usually give them a few hours after it's called in before going up there. If you knew the amount of scripts they are filling everyday plus dealing with insurance red tape then maybe you would understand. But I did pick up my wife's meds after oral surgery a few weeks ago and stopped by on the way home from her surgery. It was ready and I even asked clarification on a few things and was out of there in 10 minutes.

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Have an express line, pick up only, and automate it.

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Wanted to add since you brought it up again, they do automate a lot of this at common sites that get mailed, and there are other mail-in services. They also have automated messages that let you know when it is ready.

Counting pills is not the primary bottleneck. Most transactions are very easy and go smoothly. You are in the right track with an express line - not all customers/transactions should be treated the same.

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I forgot my favorite this is a real hoot. Dr sends prescription to pharmacy, you don’t find out they don’t have it or can’t get it until after you are inconvenienced. There’s no way to tell the drs office they don’t have it? Legitimately no possible method by which they could all work together more efficiently and all make more money

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How would you expect the pharmacy to know about prescriptions they don’t have? See my previous post re: gatekeeping. People get pissed that they may have to go back upstream, so they basically make the pharmacy interface with them to fix it. And if you want to bitch at the doctor, you have to make another appointment.

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And the transaction took at least 10 minutes. You must be going to Walgreens. They are the worst. Find a better pharmacy and you will be happy to learn that they are not all the same. Local mom & pop shops are usually good and to my surprise, Walmart pharmacy is extremely efficient. Walgreens is by far the worst.

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I use Prescriptions to Geaux when possible but I just can’t justify the drive that often.

I usually use the Walgreens on Airline and Highland. Last time I tried to call up there the lady answered and put me on hold. After about an hour someone picked up and the call was “disconnected”. I called the actual Walgreens and asked them if there had been sort of crime committed against the pharmacy employees because they must have died while I was on hold. She walked back there and got someone on the phone who refused to agree that I ever called or was put on hold.

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Especially if it’s me behind that customer in line glaring at you.

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Why you being creepy, bro?

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You obviously don't have kids.

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Not knowing what the word “I” means is a new OT low. Damn

Now the whole CVS pharmacy takes lunch from 1-2PM.
WTF is that!!!!!

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How would you expect the pharmacy to know about prescriptions they don’t have?

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He’s saying they don’t have the drug. Not that they don’t have the prescription.

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99% of this board would have a nervous breakdown working in such a stressful environment where mistakes can kill people

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educate me then
what is stressful or potentially harmful about counting out pills

prescription reads 100 ea 100mg pills of medicine X
retrieve bulk container of 100mg pills of medicine X
count out 100 using a counting machine, deposit those 100 into a pill jar
Apply printed label to jar, place in bag, staple instructions to bag, place in alphabetized bin

whew…what pressure!
I have no idea how these poor people do this, you’re right I would crumble under that kind of stress.

for the visit to Walgreens that prompted this thread, when I finally got to the counter they had two of three prescriptions ready (prednisone in a box and the antibiotic in a box)…but not the third. So the cashier calls back there and asks could they please fill one more for mr grand.

10 minutes later I’m handed all three…the third one which was so complicated it couldn’t be filled with the other two?…an inhaler, in a box