Mail-order pharmacy. Sigh. This phrase instantly makes me annoyed. When I began practicing as a pharmacist, mail order pharmacy was not available. Now 8 years later, patients have the option of having their prescriptions mailed right to their house. Often this is the chosen route because of perceived convenience, but sometimes the insurance plan they have left them no choice. Preventing a patient from coverage at their local pharmacy is just plain wrong.
I do plenty of online shopping and appreciate the ease and rapidness of receiving what I ordered 2 days later. I live rather rural and have to drive a good distance for major shopping opportunities. Medicine is not the same as a cookbook or a new pair of shoes though. I do not need someone to explain my purchase of an object to me.
Medicine affects your entire body. It may have side effects that need to be explained. The directions may be confusing. The medicine may interact with other medications you are on. You may have concerns about the medicine your doctor is starting you on for the first time. As part of my job, I have to call mail order pharmacies on occasion. I wait on hold a long time. I get transferred to many people. Sometimes I get hung up on. It is not easy to talk to a pharmacist. When you do reach a pharmacist, they do not know you. They have never seen your face. Although they may perform their job well, they do not have a personal connection with you.
When you walk into my store, it is likely one of the staff knows your name. They may know your mom, or their kids go to school with your kid. They grew up in the same city as you. When a new prescription is given to you, a pharmacist, in person, explains it to you. You can call with questions and reach your pharmacist quickly. Your pharmacist cares about you and your health.
Mail-order pharmacies also have to deal with the mail. Your prescription may get lost in transit. Your prescription may have run out of refills delaying your delivery. You may run out of your medication and have to go without. I have helped many patients who use mail-order pharmacy with obtaining their medication when it does not arrive on time. This requires some effort on my part. I have to call the doctor, have them send to me a prescription for a short supply of medicine. Then I have to call the insurance and have them place an override allowing me to fill the prescription that the mail-order pharmacy was unable to achieve in a timely manner. I do this because it is important to me to ensure each patient has access to their medicine. Even when the mail-order pharmacy is at fault.
The pharmacist is the most accessible health care professional. We are available to answer any question from concerns about a medication, to recommendations on how to help a baby with colic. We will even try to coax your crying baby to smile while we talk with you. Most of us became a retail pharmacist because we wanted to help the community we serve improve their health. Mail order pharmacy is drawing people away from a valuable service. A retail pharmacist has more to offer than just filling your prescription.
The profession of pharmacy is continually growing and expanding. Your local pharmacy now likely offers many services aside from prescription filling. Many are free or billable to your insurance. Programs such as blood pressure checks, medication therapy appointments, and vaccinations are just a few of the options available at many retail pharmacies now. I love my job and having a personal connection with as many patients as I can. I feel it helps me understand the entire picture of their health and needs as it relates to their medicine. Choose local pharmacies, they will provide you with the best care. Your health is more important than convenience.
Take Care
Tiffany Herring PharmD