CVS found the right prescriptions Wednesday to keep its Kansas City-area stores open and avoid a repeat of last week’s pharmacist shutdowns: It pledged to ramp up hiring to ease workloads that sometimes make bathroom breaks difficult.
But solving these growing problems won’t be easy as pharmacists at CVS and other pharmacies across the country have taken on more responsibilities in recent years and prepare to deliver the latest flu and vaccines this year. Severe special infectious pneumonia vaccine.
“It’s all about not having enough money to hire the right staff to provide services,” said Ron Fitzwater, CEO of the Missouri Pharmacy Association.
Pharmacists at at least a dozen CVS pharmacies in the Kansas City area did not report to work last Thursday and Friday and were scheduled to report to work again on Wednesday until the company sent out its chief pharmacy officer with a commitment to filling open positions and increasing staffing levels.
It’s one of the latest examples of workers across the country fed up Take action.But unlike the ongoing strike Automobile manufacturers or in HollywoodPharmacists are not asking for a raise or more vacation time, but more workers to help them.
CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault said the company is “committed to addressing the concerns raised by our pharmacists so that we can continue to provide the high-quality care that our patients rely on.”
In a memo to Kansas City district staff, Chief Pharmacy Officer Prem Shah apologized for not addressing the issue sooner. get USA Today. He promised to stay in the city until the issues were resolved and to return regularly to check on progress.
“We want you, our valued pharmacy team, to be successful. We are working hard to support you and are here to help and create sustainable solutions,” Shah said, as he encouraged pharmacists to continue sharing Their concerns are even anonymous.
It’s unclear why widespread industry-wide workload issues prompted the shutdown in Kansas City. The pharmacists involved are not unionized and have not spoken publicly, so it’s unclear how satisfied they are with the company’s response.
Jeff Jonas, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, said a nationwide shortage of pharmacy workers has prompted companies to work longer hours with fewer bathroom breaks and lunch breaks. At the same time, the industry “isn’t really unionized, so I don’t think the demonstrations in Kansas City are going to inspire large-scale, coordinated action,” he said.
In stores with only one pharmacist on duty, the pharmacy must be closed every time that person leaves the area because the pharmacist must be present to supervise the technician’s work.
The American Pharmacists Association said in a statement statement It supports the position of Kansas City pharmacists.
“When pharmacists find themselves in a situation where the well-being of others is in question, they should always pause, assess the situation, and take necessary steps to ensure safe, optimal patient care,” the organization said.
CVS Health has about 300,000 employees and operates prescription drug plans through one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the United States. Its Aetna insurance unit covers more than 25 million people, and the company has nearly 10,000 pharmacies.
The company said last month that its pharmacy revenue down 17% Drug reimbursement rates remain tight as patients’ insurance companies remain tight. CVS is cutting about 5,000 jobs, but company officials said none of those jobs involve dealing with customers.
Bled Tanoe, a hospital pharmacist in Oklahoma who formerly worked at Walgreens, started a social media campaign called “Pizza Not Working,” Aiming to raise awareness of working conditions in the industry. It got its name from the pizza that was often given to overwhelmed medical staff to boost morale. Tanoe said the CVS demo left her “in awe.”
“They’re risking their reputations and their livelihoods to take a stand because serving patients is so important to them,” Tano said.
Amanda Applegate of the Kansas Pharmacists Association said pharmacists always have a lot to do.
“When we are not seen as health care professionals, we can’t do the work that needs to be done,” she said. “This lets you know patient safety—right drug, right patient, right time, right dose.”
Svlook
