Working In Retail Pharmacy During a Pandemic
I have been working at a CVS Pharmacy in New Jersey four to five days a week from the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I remember the beginning when only a handful of customers came in each day asking about hand sanitizer or facial masks. Today, we get a customer every half hour asking if we carry masks, gloves, thermometors, or pulse-oximiter’s. At my particular store we went from doing maybe one or two medication deliveries a day to fifty or sixty deliveries a day. My store also has a drive-thru pick-up window which now has customers lined up non-stop for hours where they are asking not only to pick up their medications but also non-essential items like a bottle of diet coke. Store hours have also been cut short in most stores around New Jersey to comply with state social distancing and stay at home orders. It has been a crazy adjustment working in retail during this pandemic. CVS Pharmacy has done a great job of initiating protocols to help protect their employees and ensure they stay safe starting very early on in the pandemic.
CVS Pharmacy was one of the first retail pharmacies to waive charges for home delivery of medication. I have personally seen the impact this has made in patients lives. Our elderly patients are able to have their prescriptions delivered via the USPS in 1 to 2 business days. This aids in making sure they can stay home and not be at risk of contracting COVID-19. CVS Pharmacy has also encouraged filling patient’s medications for 90-day supply or up to the plan maximum for all eligible patients. There has also been a push to apply refill overrides so patients can get an increased supply of medication which deters them from making multiple trips to the pharmacy.
In regards to employee health, CVS Pharmacy has been prioritizing distribution of protective gear to the hardest-hit areas. My store has been stocked with masks, gloves, and sanitizing products for their employees for at least a month now. This helps keep employees safe and limits the possible transmission of illness. CVS Health has also provided pharmacies with clear shields that are placed at all places of contact between patient and employee. These shields prevent the spread of any droplets from patient to employee or vice versa. Finally, customers are encouraged to keep a safe distance of 6 feet from other customers as well as all points of contact with employees.
CVS Health has also taken any financial burdens of their employees in mind as well. In recognition of the essential role CVS Health employees are playing, the company is awarding bonuses to employees that range from $150 to $500 which will be provided to not only pharmacists but store associates and managers as well as hourly employees. CVS Health is also offering employees help with both child and elder or adult dependent care needs. They are working with BrightHorizons network of national in-home and center-based daycare providers. Employees are recieving up to 25 fully covered days of backup care. CVS Health is also providing 14-day paid leave for any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 or needs to be quarantined as a result of potential exposure.
In conclusion, I believe CVS Health has taken all of the proper precautions to protect their employees and make sure they are provided for during this unprecedented pandemic. I feel comfortable going to work knowing I have the proper protective gear and procedures in place to limit my possible exposure. It has been a stressful and challenging time for healthcare providers and pharmacies alike; however, at CVS Pharmacy we are continuing to keep the patients as our top priority. This means continuing to follow-up on doctor calls for refills or clarifications, patient outreach calls to remind patients to refill their medications, and always looking up discount cards to get the best price for our patients. Although we have all been met with challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, CVS Health and their employees are doing the best they can to make sure our patients stay well and continue helping them on their path to better health.
Thanks for reading,
Dennys Tapia III
Source: https://cvshealth.com/covid-19
