A question for any pharmacist

[fireant911]

I have always been perplexed upon the length of time required to get a prescription filled. Pharmacists no longer, at least to my knowledge, have to make up individual prescriptions as in the day’s of old. Regardless of how busy the pharmacy appears to be, the answer always seems to be “we should have that ready in an hour”. Why an hour? The worse case now is that the quantity of pills may have to be counted. My trip yesterday was to pick up a prepackaged dosage of Tamiflu – this whole transaction should have taken less than one minute. I understand that there can be issues with insurance and such but why is the wait always much longer in length than necessary? I was already in the computer, everything was up-to-date on my end, and the Tamiflu was already boxed up and ready – why would there have to be any wait at all? Two trips to the pharmacy (one to drop the prescription off and another to pick it up) appear to be the standard.

[lendaddy]

I always assumed they were checking the legitimacy of the script and maybe your drug history, etc..

[stomachmonkey]

Done get me started

Went to fill a scrip the other day

Pharmacy was closed for lunch

sign says that when only one pharmicist is on duty they close for an hour

Hang around and wait the other customers

5 minutes after the hour 2 pharmacists come back from lunch

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I always assumed they were checking the legitimacy of the script and maybe your drug history, etc..

that takes a few keystrokes at the monitor.

Find a better pharmacy, I would recommend an independant

[widebody911]

I've forwarded your question to my pharmacist g/f

FWIW, I'm with Kaiser, and my scripts are sent to the pharmacy electronically and ready to go by the time I get there.

[Big Ed]

I sold an independent pharmacist a building in my town to set up a new store. During the process, I was telling him how happy I was to have a new player in town, as the one store we currently had (CVS) provided abysmal service.

He told me that the it is part of their marketing strategy to make you wait for the prescription, because the margin on the prescription drugs is far lower than the goods in the "front of the store." He also said their systems track the time the scrip is received versus the time it is rung at the register, so they are keeping tabs on the pharmacists.

Not sure if that's true or not, but I sure get good (and quick) service at the now-open independent pharmacy.

[fireant911]

Originally Posted by Big Ed

... happy I was to have a new player in town, as the one store we currently had (CVS) provided abysmal service.

He told me that the it is part of their marketing strategy to make you wait for the prescription, because the margin on the prescription drugs is far lower than the goods in the "front of the store." He also said their systems track the time the scrip is received versus the time it is rung at the register, so they are keeping tabs on the pharmacists...

Big Ed,
That is an interesting point. The pharmacy I use is a CVS - this could explain the slow reaction time. The daughter's boyfriend used to be a pharmacy technican at the same CVS. I posed this same question to him and he did not seem to think that it was a problem. He did, however, have many stories concerning customers who were extremely unhappy for having to wait for unreasonably long periods to their 'goods'.

[dhoward]

I'll bet yours wan't the only script that needed filling...
plus pre-packaged or not, contents are verified, Sig is printed and label applied, etc...

[fireant911]

Originally Posted by dhoward

I'll bet yours wan't the only script that needed filling...
plus pre-packaged or not, contents are verified, Sig is printed and label applied, etc...

Certainly mine is never the only prescription - I never indicated that it was nor do I deserve any preferential treatment. My quandry is why does it always take so long regardless of the amount of people waiting. Printing labels takes mere seconds. The box was factory sealed therefore I can safely conclude that no one at this particular pharmacy verified anything with my prescription. I have been at this same pharmacy at the most non-peak times and there is always what I consider to be an extremely long wait. Opinions regarding this matter are nice; however, they lack the credentials to properly answer this question. I was looking for input of any practicing pharmacist who could explain why such a long wait is required. I am awaiting (hopefully) a response from widebody911 after consulting his girlfriend on this matter. Maybe it is a poorly operated pharmacy or maybe the marketing strategy mentioned earlier by Big Ed is the reason.

[Andras Nagy]

This morning I went to Walgreens, took the typewritten presecription from the doctor with me, and it was for a pre-packaged medicine, 30 pills per vial.

I stated that I would like to wait for the prescription, they said "just a moment". And it took them 1/2 hour to fill. During that time they spoke to two other customers (not counting the four people that drove up to claim their previously-called-in prescriptions) and the three people behind the cohnter seemed to be doing other things than filling mine.

Why? One of them could have checked their computer, found everything in order, taken the two vials off the shelf, and I could have been on my way in two minutes. But it took 30 minutes!

Why?

[Tobra]

Such a long wait is not required, but they get paid by the hour not per script

[Flatbutt1]

And when the pharmacy fills your script in five minutes but you go home with the wrong medication you'll be suing them for not exercising the proper due diligence. Slow down, you'll live longer.

[DARISC]

I get irritated waiting also. But at the CVS I use (and a lot of others as well), the pharmacists all work in plain view of the customers and they are always busy counting and pushing pills. Can't figure out how they can look that busy and at the same time be slacking off wasting time (I've never been able to successfully pull that off at work ).

I must say that whenever I've had to speak with one (not one of their assistants) they've been patient, courteous and helpful. So, I give them the benefit of the doubt and try to grin and bear it.

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Such a long wait is not required, but they get paid by the hour not per script

CVS just involved in an investigation over bonuses paid for production.
Patient safety is an issue in high-volume pharmacies.
I'm very close to this.

[Don Plumley]

It takes a long time to keep from breaking the little bottles in the typewriter.

(sorry, rehash of a very old joke).

[URY914]

What is a typewriter?

[wcc]

First come, first served! How many times have you cut in line at McD's to get a cheese burger because someone in front of you had a more complicated order? Hopefully, none. You know, not EVERYONE has a script for Tamiflu. They may be waiting for heart meds or something a little more serious. This thread to me is a joke! I've heard pharmacists say "Speed Kills" and I'm not talking about driving....

[fireant911]

Originally Posted by wcc

First come, first served! How many times have you cut in line at McD's to get a cheese burger because someone in front of you had a more complicated order? Hopefully, none. You know, not EVERYONE has a script for Tamiflu. They may be waiting for heart meds or something a little more serious. This thread to me is a joke! I've heard pharmacists say "Speed Kills" and I'm not talking about driving....

Bill,
If you find this thread to be such a joke, why did you even bother replying? It is readily apparent that you are clearly not a pharmacist (which this thread was addressed) - what is the value you added? Why do people here feel that they have to throw in their views (and jabs) to questions they know nothing about? This junior-high mentality gets really old... Please do not attempt a witty reply - I will not partake in this juvenile activity. I am interested in any real data or insight that you may have concerning my original question (sans any bashing, of course).

Tenaciously, I am still hoping to hear from widebody911 who can share what really goes on behind the scenes. Even with the pharmacist’s working area being in full view, there could be many more things going on concurrently than is not visible to the untrained eye. The textbook 30 minute minimum wait is what I am trying to justify. Why, regardless of the activity level, could it take so long to fill a prescription? I have seen the pharmacy workers essentially playing 'paddy-cake' (hyperbolically, of course) only to still get the same reply. Why? Is there a real reason or should I switch to another pharmacy?

[wcc]

You are right I'm not a pharmacist. However, I married one and know more then a handful personally. I read this thread thinking you may have actually needed genuine help. I'm not going to waste her or any of our friends time on what I consider an impatient customer.

First come first serve.
verify insurance
script isn't written correctly
maybe they don't like you so they make you wait
the list goes on

good luck finding your answer...

edit for spelling....

[Moses]

During office hours, pharmacies handle a huge volume of phone, fax and electronic prescriptions from doctors offices. I'll bet walk in traffic is a very small part of what they do.