Current Thoughts On Going To The Pharmacy

I have my prescriptions set up for auto-refill, but whether or not insurance approves them is determined by when they were filled the prior month, and because there’s a bunch of idiots at Walgreen’s, my test strips are no longer filled when they’re supposed to be. In the past I had reasons for actually going to a pharmacy as opposed to getting them delivered via mail, however, I think my patience has run out for the pharmacy and I think the insurance companies changed something so my reasons for putting up the monthly test strip fight have become a moot point.

I get an email last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday stating that my prescriptions weren’t ready. Monday I knew that my peeps that are smart about refilling my prescriptions wouldn’t be there after I got off work so I waltz into the pharmacy on Tuesday.

Problem Numero Uno: 15 people standing in line, 3 cash registers physically available, only 1 is open, and a bunch of idiots working behind the counter (except for 2).

Problem Numero Dos: I don’t even know if my prescription is ready.

The line was moving slower than a snail, seriously, I could’ve put a snail on the ground at the end of the line and it would’ve made it to the register before than the next person in line did. So I walk around to the “drop off” counter where my most favorite person at the pharmacy is working. She’s seriously worked there for as long as I’ve had diabetes so she knows everything, she knows me, she knows my family, she’s friendly, she’s great, I wouldn’t trade her for anything. I ask her if my test strips are ready (note: she doesn’t have to ask my last name or birthdate to look me up) she says, “nope, I’ll get them processed now” she knows the secret trick and utilizes it every time my account pops up in her presence, something that only 2 other people at the pharmacy will do for me.

It was cool because one of those people happened to be there that night and she wonders down and I say hi. She turns to my allstar pharmacist and says “are you taking care of my friend here” to which allstar says “yup” and I say “she’s always taken care of me, she’s one of the good ones ” and #2 says “because i’ve known her a long time I could take her down for you [in reference to allstar]” and allstar says “not as long as courtney” and I say to #2 “20 years, it’s a long time” and #2 says, “ok then, sounds like you two have things under control down here”.

Allstar and #2 are my most favorite, I don’t have to explain anything, they just see my account and get the job done no questions asked.

In regards to getting my prescription filled, I tell allstar that I’ll be back on Wednesday because the line is just too long. She completely understands and tells me they’ll be ready.

Wednesday night on my way home I decide to go through the drive through to get my test strips to which I pretty much just kicked and screamed because the line had 10 cars in it. AND! the second line was closed. AND! the parking lot was full, I didn’t even get out to go see how long the line was on the inside.

Thursday was a bust, I didn’t get in range of the pharmacy until after it was closed.

Friday, I’m sick, dying almost of strep throat so I leave work early. I figure, it’s 1 in the afternoon, I’ll be able to get in, get out, and go take a nap. Not so much. I didn’t bother getting out of my car, so I went through the drive through. Both lines were open, 3 cars in 1, 2 in the other. I had to get in the longer line because the test strips can’t be shoved in the canister. Almost and hour went by before I got my prescriptions. We’re talking about an avg of 10 min per person.

I had just had it, it’s ridiculous. It’s crazy apparent to me that pharmacies are filling more prescriptions than ever, they’re getting more traffic than ever, and they don’t have the man power to handle it. When there’s one person working 2 available drive throughs and only one person working when there’s 3 available cash registers, that’s not enough to service the number of people that are coming through. HIRE SOME PEOPLE TO HELP! Seriously. The people behind the counter are frustrated and angry and they’re doing nothing to hide it. The people in the lines are frustrated, sick, in need of something and our tolerance for much of anything is at a low when we’re in line. The pharmacies need to help us help them. Seriously, it’d be a happier place if there were more people working the cash registers. Tensions would be less, the lines would be moving, what could be better than that?