Rant on: I went to the pharmacy one evening earlier this week to pick up one of Mom’s medication refills. After a long wait, I finally was at the head of the line. They verified who I was and that I knew Mom’s birth date. They found her medication in their bin, after a long search because they still can’t spell her name right (seriously, Carlena — is that so difficult??). They printed out the info form with the $12 price printed right on it that Medicare has determined is appropriate. And then… the power died!
It was just raining. I don’t know what happened. But power on the whole street was out.
So I told them that I’d intended to use her card, but I also had cash. How much was it? $12. I had that in exact change. “Please give me Mom’s medication”.
Nope. Can’t do it. Can’t open the cash drawer with the power out. “Just put it next to the cash register and put it in the drawer when the power comes back on.” Can’t do that. Also, I’d have no receipt. “I don’t care, I just want to take Mom her medication.” Nope, can’t do it. Meds are tightly controlled (this is heart medicine FFS, not pain pills or something), they have to input that they gave me the medication. “OK, do that as soon as the power comes back on, meanwhile take my money and let me take Mom’s medication and leave.” CanNOT do that.
So here comes the manager. Oh good, help! Nope. Every customer is given the bum’s rush out of the store! Why? Welp, with the power out, they also have no security, no cameras!
So I protested but it did no good, I had to leave, I spent about an hour for nothing (long line!), Mom didn’t have her heart pills for a day, and I had to go back the next evening. Mom doesn’t like me leaving her alone, so I do this after she’s gone to bed. Regardless of need, the pharmacy would not give me any medication without an operational computer!!
Is this the best our pharmacies can do? Shouldn’t they have two backup plans: 1) Backup generators and backup computer systems; and 2) A manual system for both medication dispensing and security, if there is no power or no computers.
?????!!!!!????? Rant off.