CVS tips

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Aznfarmerboi

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I was wondering if anybody from CVS knows how to beat the damn readyfill and PCI? My readyfill numbers are low. Is there any way to reach target without enrolling everybody automatically?
 
Yeah. Ask them. Sing the praises of readyfill to everyone that walks in. My store has the highest readyfill in our district because we do this. When that little screen pops up that asks you if they want to enroll, actually call them and ask instead of breezing past it! Highlight the "Readyfill Elig" note at the top of the pamphlet and tell your techs that they MUST mention it to patients if that is highlighted.
 
Aznfarmerboi said:
I was wondering if anybody from CVS knows how to beat the damn readyfill and PCI? My readyfill numbers are low. Is there any way to reach target without enrolling everybody automatically?
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My store's scores have been in the 90's. We have one intern that does all of the PCI calls and that helps the store's score a lot. Apparently the calls need to be done on line 1 and needs to be more than 30 seconds according to the trainer. So you pretty much make sure you explain the medication is important.. and we have readyfill now so we can add you on for convenience... etc. You have to try selling it as much as you can. In addition, when someone calls in to refill, I usually ask if they want to just automatically enroll into readyfill if they're on maintenance, so every month around the time for their next refill they can just come in for it. This has been working out really well for me, and a lot of people would call in and I tell them it's ready for pick up and they're very surprised. 👍 Do you have a lot of deliveries for your store? My store does, and many of these patients' medications are enrolled into readyfill -- something for you to look into for help in numbers? Good luck with your store! :luck:
 
Thanks.. I highlight ready fill and ask, but as you know... its also based on how many people actually pick up their scripts. Its fustrating as a lot of meds should not be refilled... and use as needed
 
Aznfarmerboi said:
Its fustrating as a lot of meds should not be refilled... and use as needed
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Yes!! I get so mad every time it asks to enroll rescue inhalers, creams, and eyedrops!!

But....I have enrolled all birth controls and retrovirals on ReadyFill. This has greatly helped my numbers, and these patients have been very receptive to it. The elderly just seem to get confused about ReadyFill, so I started with an easier population.
 
Aznfarmerboi said:
I was wondering if anybody from CVS knows how to beat the damn readyfill and PCI? My readyfill numbers are low. Is there any way to reach target without enrolling everybody automatically?
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**** that ****. Some idiot in my store automatically started enrolling everyone into Readyfill without asking the customers, and now the bins are filled beyond capacity.

Every time I talk to patients, I try to discourage them from using ReadyFill. If they decline on one of their meds, I'll go and decline them on all of their meds.
 
Sparda29 said:
**** that ****. Some idiot in my store automatically started enrolling everyone into Readyfill without asking the customers, and now the bins are filled beyond capacity.

Every time I talk to patients, I try to discourage them from using ReadyFill. If they decline on one of their meds, I'll go and decline them on all of their meds.
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Do not discourage patients from using readyfill... it does help with adherence. Its just for us, our target population do not need "help" in reminding and rather do it themselves. I def try to get all bcps and HIV meds since they are easy points. Its the rest that fustrates me.
 
Stress it with the tech at Drop Off to do it when the Rx first comes in. Once it gets to the register it is too late. Patients don't want to wait in another line to be enrolled. Additionally, it is inefficient for the Drop Off tech to enroll someone when he/she is hacking away at the faxes, electronic renewals, QR, or those pesky Amerigroup folks and their $10 worth of free OTCs.
 
It's a problem at our store because no one explains it, and the phone numbers we have for half the patients are wrong. So the patients who do get the calls have no idea what the phone call is about, and then they call us all confused.

HIV Meds, we only have like 5 patients with HIV and all of them are adherent.

At one point, we were the top store in the district for Readyfill, and I'm sure that we were also the top store in the district for amount of Day 14's pulled out every day. Oh, and to the guy above, the patients at pick-up don't have to wait on another line to get enrolled, you just take this sticker and put it on this pad, similar to the blue book, indicating whether to enroll or decline them, and then you enter those into the system when you have time.

Maybe it's my boss who is the problem with Readyfill because he thinks that we should never leave any scripts in the Queue when the store closes. My opinion about that was, if Readyfill is giving us 3 days to fill those, why bust your balls to get those filled, just do the stuff for that day, and some extra stuff, you don't have to fill all of them today.
 
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Ask them honestly if they want to enroll in readyfill. Then go into the computer and either enroll them or decline them. Especially decline them if they say no, because it won;t affect tyour percentage from there on.

I wouldn;t automatically enroll them, nothign pisses me off more than when people receive phone calls from the automated system assuming they have medications ready, and I have to search the damn bin and computer to see if anything was filled.
 
One of our good patients stopped me today while he was walking out. Jokingly, he asked me, "When are you going to put your foot down and tell CVS that this ReadyFill is a piece of s***."

Our bins are so full that we have about 10 shopping baskets for overflow. It's ruining our store!
 
Our day 14s are a page long. We stopped deleting ready refills and just change date and rebill because you end up filling it again 14 days later. If the readyfill has been on shelf for 4 weeks then we delete it and take off readyfill.
I've been in store that don't even ask and put everyone on readyfill. Love it when the pt gets a call their cream is ready 10 days after they picked up the first one. I still hate calling and asking someone if they need a refill on their albuterol inhalor they picked up 16 days ago. What am I supposed to say? CVS thinks you should be having more asthma attacks, what's wrong with you? What do u mean u only use it as needed and just in case.
 
museabuse said:
Our day 14s are a page long. We stopped deleting ready refills and just change date and rebill because you end up filling it again 14 days later. If the readyfill has been on shelf for 4 weeks then we delete it and take off readyfill.
I've been in store that don't even ask and put everyone on readyfill. Love it when the pt gets a call their cream is ready 10 days after they picked up the first one. I still hate calling and asking someone if they need a refill on their albuterol inhalor they picked up 16 days ago. What am I supposed to say? CVS thinks you should be having more asthma attacks, what's wrong with you? What do u mean u only use it as needed and just in case.
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Exactly, the stores who are enrolling everyone automatically is pissing me off because it makes my numbers look so low. Fustrating.
 
As a former employee... I have no comment



🙂🙂🙂🙂
 
Note to self: Avoid CVS.

Sounds like the pharmacy equivalent to Barnes and Noble's membership card (or [insert membership here).

I wonder when we'll be asking if they'd like fries with that...

ReadyFill "numbers"? Jesus christ.
 
I will not stand here and tell you that CVS is doing this for solely altruistic reasons. But if you don't think this is a great idea to increase compliance, you are being silly. Only a fool would enroll prn meds, topicals, or med's whose days supply is greater than reported to the insurance due to package size constraints.

Is this for everyone, no. But if done well it's a great tool. And listen, if you don't want to work for CVS, quit. Go to work for Dr. M's pharmacy or sit on your ass at a grocery store and read magazines all day. If CVS or any other employer pays you, you do as you are told unless it's illegal, immoral or unethical.

Shut up and stop complaining. If they want to pay you to fill the rxs on one day and return them 14 days later, do what you're told.
 
Old Timer said:
I will not stand here and tell you that CVS is doing this for solely altruistic reasons. But if you don't think this is a great idea to increase compliance, you are being silly. Only a fool would enroll prn meds, topicals, or med's whose days supply is greater than reported to the insurance due to package size constraints.

Is this for everyone, no. But if done well it's a great tool. And listen, if you don't want to work for CVS, quit. Go to work for Dr. M's pharmacy or sit on your ass at a grocery store and read magazines all day. If CVS or any other employer pays you, you do as you are told unless it's illegal, immoral or unethical.

Shut up and stop complaining. If they want to pay you to fill the rxs on one day and return them 14 days later, do what you're told.
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Sorry, Im not hiring 🙂 but very well put. that is why I did quit. I couldnt do what they were asking me to do, and if they are paying my salary and i cant do what they asking me to do, then i might as well quit. Of course the situation of filling 3000 plus with limited overlap (188 rph hours in a 24 hour store) was ludicrous.
 
Doctor M said:
Sorry, Im not hiring 🙂 but very well put. that is why I did quit. I couldnt do what they were asking me to do, and if they are paying my salary and i cant do what they asking me to do, then i might as well quit. Of course the situation of filling 3000 plus with limited overlap (188 rph hours in a 24 hour store) was ludicrous.
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Your pharmacy supe was screwing you big time. Your store should have 220 RPh hours.
 
Passion4Sci said:
Note to self: Avoid CVS.

Sounds like the pharmacy equivalent to Barnes and Noble's membership card (or [insert membership here).

I wonder when we'll be asking if they'd like fries with that...

ReadyFill "numbers"? Jesus christ.
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To be fair, Rite Aid and independents implemented the adherence crap first so CVS had to follow. Just like how Wags started with drive-thrus and POWER. Pretty much this ready fill is the standard in the industry so it should be: avoid retail.
 
I just don't like the idea of the phone calls associated with Readyfill. None of the patients ever know what is being said on the phone call. And of course, the automated system leave's OUR store's # as the callback number, so then they call us, and we have no idea why they were called, or they just show up at the store.

Instead, CVS should have like a live call center somewhere.
 
Old Timer said:
I will not stand here and tell you that CVS is doing this for solely altruistic reasons. But if you don't think this is a great idea to increase compliance, you are being silly. Only a fool would enroll prn meds, topicals, or med's whose days supply is greater than reported to the insurance due to package size constraints.

Is this for everyone, no. But if done well it's a great tool. And listen, if you don't want to work for CVS, quit. Go to work for Dr. M's pharmacy or sit on your ass at a grocery store and read magazines all day. If CVS or any other employer pays you, you do as you are told unless it's illegal, immoral or unethical.

Shut up and stop complaining. If they want to pay you to fill the rxs on one day and return them 14 days later, do what you're told.
Click to expand...

👍x1,000

Everybody wants a 6-figure salary and nobody wants to work their ***** off for it like the rest of the world. Any other profession would have you doing 10x as much for the money we make. Quit being whiney babies.
 
Old Timer said:
Your pharmacy supe was screwing you big time. Your store should have 220 RPh hours.
Click to expand...

yeah, i agree. and now that im gone as well as my partner, they have at least 3 days overlap...go figure...
 
Old Timer said:
If CVS or any other employer pays you, you do as you are told unless it's illegal, immoral or unethical.

Shut up and stop complaining. If they want to pay you to fill the rxs on one day and return them 14 days later, do what you're told.
Click to expand...

For everyone who works at a chain pharmacy the sooner you come to this realization the better.
 
MountainPharmD said:
They will take advantage of you as long as you let them.
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3 years was long enough...and now that they are scared that i will take their business they are doing what they can to keep it. gift cards, hours, and tech hours up the a**! haha lol,
 
Doctor M said:
3 years was long enough...and now that they are scared that i will take their business they are doing what they can to keep it. gift cards, hours, and tech hours up the a**! haha lol,
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Did you open up close to your old store? If so it should not be too hard to take enough of their business for you to do quite well. CVS sucks. Sometimes I think people forget there are other options.
 
MountainPharmD said:
Did you open up close to your old store? If so it should not be too hard to take enough of their business for you to do quite well. CVS sucks. Sometimes I think people forget there are other options.
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exactly 1/2 mile, with my name on my signage 🙂
 
Old Timer is 100% correct.

Really, I don't think any of you can bitch. Pharmacists at these types of "practices" get paid that much more to sell out any and all dignity they might hope to have. You don't get a freakin' lunch break. Only a piss break if you're lucky. What the hell? Is this China? And those that are complaining are continuing to do the job because they get more money doing it.

Call a spade a spade. Basically, you are all ******. And like common ******, you get treated as such. Either stop being a ***** or stop whining that your whoredom lacks dignity. Old Timer is basically like the old madame at the brothel..."sister, I've been doing this for years...we're prostitutes...learn to deal with the stigma and lifestyle...but the money's good...shut up about it or do something else..."

Listen to Madame Old Timer. Get in or get out. But don't complain about having to live with the crazies inside the asylum...
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Old Timer is 100% correct.

Really, I don't think any of you can bitch. Pharmacists at these types of "practices" get paid that much more to sell out any and all dignity they might hope to have. You don't get a freakin' lunch break. Only a piss break if you're lucky. What the hell? Is this China? And those that are complaining are continuing to do the job because they get more money doing it.

Call a spade a spade. Basically, you are all ******. And like common ******, you get treated as such. Either stop being a ***** or stop whining that your whoredom lacks dignity. Old Timer is basically like the old madame at the brothel..."sister, I've been doing this for years...we're prostitutes...learn to deal with the stigma and lifestyle...but the money's good...shut up about it or do something else..."

Listen to Madame Old Timer. Get in or get out. But don't complain about having to live with the crazies inside the asylum...
Click to expand...

:laugh:👍
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Old Timer is 100% correct.

Really, I don't think any of you can bitch. Pharmacists at these types of "practices" get paid that much more to sell out any and all dignity they might hope to have. You don't get a freakin' lunch break. Only a piss break if you're lucky. What the hell? Is this China? And those that are complaining are continuing to do the job because they get more money doing it.

Call a spade a spade. Basically, you are all ******. And like common ******, you get treated as such. Either stop being a ***** or stop whining that your whoredom lacks dignity. Old Timer is basically like the old madame at the brothel..."sister, I've been doing this for years...we're prostitutes...learn to deal with the stigma and lifestyle...but the money's good...shut up about it or do something else..."

Listen to Madame Old Timer. Get in or get out. But don't complain about having to live with the crazies inside the asylum...
Click to expand...

You're dropping a few calibers there Milkey. I have been a pharmacist for 27 years. I have been with CVS almost nine years. I have had less stress, less aggravation and more freedom to practice as I see fit at CVS than at any independent I worked at. I left the asylum and went to work for CVS.
 
Old Timer said:
You're dropping a few calibers there Milkey. I have been a pharmacist for 27 years. I have been with CVS almost nine years. I have had less stress, less aggravation and more freedom to practice as I see fit at CVS than at any independent I worked at. I left the asylum and went to work for CVS.
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To each their own...👍
 
Old Timer said:
You're dropping a few calibers there Milkey. I have been a pharmacist for 27 years. I have been with CVS almost nine years. I have had less stress, less aggravation and more freedom to practice as I see fit at CVS than at any independent I worked at. I left the asylum and went to work for CVS.
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Yes. And clearly its every other freaking retail pharmacist I've ever met in my entire life that sees it the other way that's wrong.
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Yes. And clearly its every other freaking retail pharmacist I've ever met in my entire life that sees it the other way that's wrong.
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Old Timer lives in an alternate universe from the rest of us. The wacky place where CVS is a good place to work. Obviously he is the only pharmacist that exists in his alternate universe since I have never heard of another pharmacist who likes working at CVS.
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Yes. And clearly its every other freaking retail pharmacist I've ever met in my entire life that sees it the other way that's wrong.
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Maybe they are just a bunch of self absorbed narcissistic whiny ass babies who have never worked retail at all except for chains. They don't know how bad they could have it.

When I worked independent, I had to ask for a raise. There was no annual review and salary increase. There were no bonuses, no 401K. There was pressure to sell items that I didn't think worked. I was reprimanded for giving advice the patient didn't like. I was making $26.50 per hour when I signed on with CVS and got an immediate increase to $33.50 per hour. My salary has gone up dramatically. I get three weeks vacation instead of two weeks vacation. I get double time or triple time on holidays instead of base when I was at the independents.

Perspective is everything and some of you guys lack some. Maybe hospital is better than retail. I certainly didn't like it when I did rotations a gazillion years ago and that was a nice place on fourth floor with a great view of the grounds.

The problem here is people don't want to work they just want to be handed their six figure income.
 
Old Timer said:
Maybe they are just a bunch of self absorbed narcissistic whiny ass babies who have never worked retail at all except for chains. They don't know how bad they could have it.

When I worked independent, I had to ask for a raise. There was no annual review and salary increase. There were no bonuses, no 401K. There was pressure to sell items that I didn't think worked. I was reprimanded for giving advice the patient didn't like. I was making $26.50 per hour when I signed on with CVS and got an immediate increase to $33.50 per hour. My salary has gone up dramatically. I get three weeks vacation instead of two weeks vacation. I get double time or triple time on holidays instead of base when I was at the independents.

Perspective is everything and some of you guys lack some. Maybe hospital is better than retail. I certainly didn't like it when I did rotations a gazillion years ago and that was a nice place on fourth floor with a great view of the grounds.

The problem here is people don't want to work they just want to be handed their six figure income.
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Don't want to do extra work. It seems that every year, CVS comes out with some new thing for the pharmacy. First that damned generic efficacy thing. I'm so glad that it got sent down the toilet.
 
Old Timer said:
Perspective is everything and some of you guys lack some. Maybe hospital is better than retail. I certainly didn't like it when I did rotations a gazillion years ago and that was a nice place on fourth floor with a great view of the grounds..
Click to expand...

Or maybe you've been so CVS institutionalized that you lack perspective. What other job on the planet do people not get lunch breaks for 10 or 12 hour shifts? Hell, the most ruthless retailer on the planet, Walmart, at least affords their pharmapawns that much leisure. CVS is worse to their employees than freakin' Walmart. Think about that.
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Or maybe you've been so CVS institutionalized that you lack perspective. What other job on the planet do people not get lunch breaks for 10 or 12 hour shifts? Hell, the most ruthless retailer on the planet, Walmart, at least affords their pharmapawns that much leisure. CVS is worse to their employees than freakin' Walmart. Think about that.
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First of all, I get a lunch break every day..... The same as when I was at an independent....
 
Sparda29 said:
Don't want to do extra work. It seems that every year, CVS comes out with some new thing for the pharmacy. First that damned generic efficacy thing. I'm so glad that it got sent down the toilet.
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As usual, you re factually impaired. Generic efficiency is 25% of your execution score.
 
Old Timer said:
So what? Is your store the only store with prescribers that choose to insisit on brand name drugs?
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No, but it is a ****ty business metric. My bonus is at stake if the prescribers DAW1?
 
ForcedEntry said:
No, but it is a ****ty business metric. My bonus is at stake if the prescribers DAW1?
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It's by zip code, so it's how you compare to others in the same geographic area. So it's the same for them. That's why different stores have different GSR's and why store A can have a lower GSR than store B while store A get's the bonus and store B does not.
 
ForcedEntry said:
Yep...****ty
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it's not in our control. We have someOne who gets tons of rxs and their UPS insurance allows them brand for 2.50. The family gets 10 rxs per family member. We order brand just for them and all of their meds have generic. What is the incentive for them if it's not cheaper. I know we would make goal if not for this family, should I tell them to go to other pharmacy because my management doesn't like my generic substitution rates? Plus she always uses target coupons for gift cards. She called corporate and we have to take them even though she probably gets over 2000 dollars in gift cards a year.

If oldtimer doesn't think it's a shifty metric, to base your bonus on then cvs must have implanted a microchip in his brain.

Oh and I think pci calls are good for maintainance meds and readyfill is good for maitainance meds but it IS ridiculous that we are calling on Flonase, xyzal, and albuterol inhalors(16 days after they got it).
 
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