Ok, that is a weird question. Who’s name are we talking about? You probably already know my name if you are on this site. That is not me in the picture up there, by the way. I opted for a picture of a much better looking Pharmacist than myself. Am I saying you need to know your Pharmacist’s name in order to get better service? That’s pretty arrogant! Well, I am saying that, but not quite in that way. The title of this post is actually a tip of the hat to one of my favorite fictional Pharmacists, Walter White, who famously demanded “Say my name!” So, let’s discuss what I really mean here.
Pharmacy has become a service based almost solely on convenience. No longer is the “corner drug store” a town meeting place to go to for your medication, some socializing, and maybe a good soda or burger. Now there are pharmacies in nearly every grocery store, wholesale club, and mass merchandiser plus two stand alone pharmacies at every major intersection. So, basically, you can just about throw a rock from your house and hit 3 pharmacies. But, can you hit 3 good Pharmacists with that same rock? This is a problem we have caused for ourselves and it is supported by demand and our society’s increased reliance on prescription medications. My unofficial research has shown me that most people will not drive through a stoplight to get to a pharmacy if there is another one closer.
Convenience is good, right? Sure, that’s why there are so many pharmacies and Pharmacists out there. What I am afraid of is that, similar to a basic service like dry cleaning, or getting your car washed, a lot of people just go to the closest place. This is not a basic service, folks. We are talking about medications you use to keep you and your family healthy, or treat disease. In addition to that, your Pharmacist should be someone you can call on when you have questions or need advice. We are working all day and night and we always answer the phone…eventually. So, don’t you think this is someone who could be important in your life and might require some selectivity on your part? I mean, you probably know the name of they guy who mows your yard, or the Fed-Ex delivery guy, or your barista at Starbucks. Shouldn’t you know your Pharmacist?
To be clear, I don’t believe that you are putting yourself in danger by using the most convenient pharmacy or if you don’t know your Pharmacist. There are a lot of procedures in place that will minimize errors and assure you receive your correct medication. There are thousands of great Pharmacists out there and your odds are high of finding a good one, no matter where you go. We will talk another time about how to choose a good pharmacy to go to. I just want to put the idea in your head that maybe using the pharmacy on the nearest corner might not be the best choice for you. You need to find one that fits with your expectation of service, has your best interest in mind, and will be a place you can go when you really need help with something. If you know your Pharmacist then you always have somewhere to go for help.
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My daughter-in-law who is also a pharmacist agrees with you. While I have to say it’s certainly tempting to go to the nearest big box store, your health is important and finding someone you trust to process your medications is essential. You shop around for the right doctor, dentist, etc. It’s a good idea to do some research into the pharmacy you plan to use. The right pharmacist could save your life.
Please share with your daughter-in-law. I would love to hear her thoughts.
This is great! My parents have have been going to the same drug store- yes, those still exist!-in my hometown for decades now. There is no drive thru. They park and go in and know the pharmacist, Mike, by name. Heck, everyone knows Mike. It’s not the most convenient, but that’s not why they go there. They go there because they trust him and the family business that’s been serving that town for decades. Sadly, in our larger cities, that’s not as much of an option as in older towns like the one I grew up in. This is great advice, though. Thank you for sharing and putting some thoughts in my head! Makes perfect sense.
Thanks for the comment Cathy. You can still get small town service if you go to the right place. That is a cool story about Mike.