If you are choosing or forced to use a chain pharmacy where the Pharmacy department/staff looks like chaos is SOP, or your prescriptions never seems to be ready. You can complain to the state’s pharmacy board, but most state pharmacy boards are stacked with non practicing corporate Pharmacists. The primary function of the pharmacy board is to protect public safety. When most pharmacy boards are stacked with non-practicing corporate Pharmacists, who do you think their concerns are focused? Their employer and their pay checks, or how long you have to wait to get your Rxs filled or how many pts get the wrong medication in their bottle? Just remember, you only have one life and getting the wrong medications, could adversely affect that!

TWO MORE PHARMACY TRAGEDIES

https://pharmacistactivist.com/2025/June_2025.shtml

As this June issue of The Pharmacist Activist was being finalized, I was made aware of the suicides of two CVS pharmacists that occurred just days apart in mid-June. The pharmacists worked at two stores that are approximately 5 miles apart. One of them had worked for CVS for more than 20 years and was well known to those in his community and also to other local well-connected pharmacists in a community that still has an active county association. The other pharmacist was a relatively recent graduate. I do not know the factors that may have resulted in their tragic decisions. It is my understanding that CVS management has “informed” the other employees in the two stores that they must not respond to questions about or discuss these events.

I called CVS corporate headquarters in Rhode Island to ask if CVS had prepared a statement such as a tribute to the service of these pharmacists. After being placed “on-hold” for about 10 minutes, I was informed that no information was available.

We pray for and extend our sympathy to the families and friends who are coping with the grief from the loss of these loved ones.

Thousands of pharmacies have closed and their prescription files are being transferred to those which remain. In many of these latter pharmacies, increased staffing will be required to handle the increased workload. If sufficient staffing is not provided, the number of errors will increase and pharmacists and other employees will be overwhelmed. Please do not place your patients or yourselves at risk! If you experience continued understaffing in your workplace, IGNORE the metrics and REDUCE your work and time commitment (e.g., the number of prescriptions for which you have responsibility) to the level that YOU consider to be SAFE for your PATIENTS and for YOURSELF. DO NOT come in early or work later to attempt to reduce a backlog that you did not cause and will not be able to resolve. DOCUMENT your experiences and discussions with leaders/managers/owners. CONFIDE in other pharmacists whom you know are experiencing similar challenges and stress for the purpose of supporting and “monitoring” each other. If you, or a family member or friend, feels your stress/anxiety are affecting your mental health (e.g., “I don’t like the person I have become”), SEEK PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING AND REQUEST MEDICAL LEAVE. You are loved, valued, and needed!

Filed under: General Problems