How is Target's System?

[twizzlers713]

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I left CVS after 3 years, and am hurting for money while in undergrad. I'm just looking for opinions on their system and how they treat their employees. I'd like to work ~15 hours per week, I'm hoping that Target's system isn't too complicated, but I've also heard it's TERRIBLE. Thanks for any help

 

[xiphoid2010]

I left CVS after 3 years, and am hurting for money while in undergrad. I'm just looking for opinions on their system and how they treat their employees. I'd like to work ~15 hours per week, I'm hoping that Target's system isn't too complicated, but I've also heard it's TERRIBLE. Thanks for any help

When i did rotation at Target in 2010, there system was HORRID! It was just as bad as CVS is not worse. But in term of volume, Target on average wasn't nearly as crazy as CVS. And more patients that aren't eye sores.

 

[Momus]

Target has low volume but it takes twice as long to fill a prescription at Target due to dinosaur computer system so basically you can do 120 rx in a day but feel like you are doing 200 rxs...

 

[hye345]

I started interning for Target about 2 weeks ago; the software system they use is based on MS-DOS, so its a lot of F-keys, arrows, etc... my boss does it with lightning speed, I don't know how she does it. She says that the computer system has the longest learning curve (for interns, anyway).

On a brighter note, She did mention that Target is rolling out a new windows-based system sometime next year. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[LightRx3]

I started interning for Target about 2 weeks ago; the software system they use is based on MS-DOS, so its a lot of F-keys, arrows, etc... my boss does it with lightning speed, I don't know how she does it. She says that the computer system has the longest learning curve (for interns, anyway).

On a brighter note, She did mention that Target is rolling out a new windows-based system sometime next year. Can anyone confirm this?

Target has been trying to roll up the window-based system since 2010 and nothing has come about from that yet.

The last I've heard of that system was during its pilot phase near corporate. It did not do very well and I have not heard of it since then.

 

[samuricool]

Target has been trying to roll up the window-based system since 2010 and nothing has come about from that yet.

The last I've heard of that system was during its pilot phase near corporate. It did not do very well and I have not heard of it since then.

RedRx (the windows based system) launched in June 2010 in Colorado, and was in Utah and a few other places before that. It eventually spread to AZ, OK, and NH. It is a good system but will die later this month as all of those stores will be put back on PDX. Next year they plan to release their new windows based system. This time they purchased one instead of trying to make their own.

PDX, in my opinion isnt bad, its all the origami you have to do. Take that with a grain of salt though, I dont have much experience with other computer systems.

 

[Ackj]

PDX, in my opinion isnt bad, its all the origami you have to do. Take that with a grain of salt though, I dont have much experience with other computer systems.

PDX is like your creepy uncle. You've gotten used to him, but that doesn't mean he's normal.

In all seriousness, it's manageable at low volumes, but when you're getting busy it can definitely be problematic. I was in the same boat with limited exposure to other stuff, and it's really surprising how many things PDX lacks. Scanning a hard copy RX, image of the drug on screen for verification, detailed workflow notes, moving from one part of the screen to another quickly, an organized queue, etc. We do roughly 150/day during the week so it's not hard to manage, but I can't imagine keeping all of the notes we leave lying around if we did like 300+. Same goes for printing out all the processed labels, it would be a mess of paper everywhere.

 

[samuricool]

PDX is like your creepy uncle. You've gotten used to him, but that doesn't mean he's normal.

In all seriousness, it's manageable at low volumes, but when you're getting busy it can definitely be problematic. I was in the same boat with limited exposure to other stuff, and it's really surprising how many things PDX lacks. Scanning a hard copy RX, image of the drug on screen for verification, detailed workflow notes, moving from one part of the screen to another quickly, an organized queue, etc. We do roughly 150/day during the week so it's not hard to manage, but I can't imagine keeping all of the notes we leave lying around if we did like 300+. Same goes for printing out all the processed labels, it would be a mess of paper everywhere.

During the summers we average about 250 per weekday and 120's or so on the weekend days. Flu shot season the weekdays increase to 320 per day without the flu shots. I would respectfully disagree that it becomes any less manageable with higher volumes. Then again I am used to 'the creepy uncle.' Without any insurance problems I can generally type a prescription in 15 seconds or less. Its those problems or finding which exact override code they want that can make it a pain in the ass.

And without a doubt the huge drawback is not having a scanned copy. I didnt think that would be such a huge issue until one of my rotations had that technology. Super feature for a tech/intern, I am sure priceless for a pharmacist. The same goes for an organized queue. RedRx had that, a feature I will certainly miss.

 

[samuricool]

Oh, and in terms of how Target treats their employees. They, again just from my opinion and personal experience, are one of the best and most ethical out there. Any shift over five hours you HAVE to take one 1/2 hour lunch and you also get one fifteen minute break over four hours worked or two if you work more than six. This is a nationwide policy, does not vary state to state. Now, if youre like me and would rather work through your lunch you dont have that option, but I do consider it nice that they at the very least offer it to you. I've never worked for any of the big chains but Ive always heard that breaks/lunches arent always guaranteed. Employee discount is 10%. If you average 20 hours or more each week over the course of the year you meet their minimum requirements for health insurance. Maybe its just where I work, but I have never been around so many nice, professional people in my life. Generally Target has a little higher income clientele. Lots of soccer moms.

 

[hye345]

Oh, and in terms of how Target treats their employees. They, again just from my opinion and personal experience, are one of the best and most ethical out there. Any shift over five hours you HAVE to take one 1/2 hour lunch and you also get one fifteen minute break over four hours worked or two if you work more than six. This is a nationwide policy, does not vary state to state. Now, if youre like me and would rather work through your lunch you dont have that option, but I do consider it nice that they at the very least offer it to you. I've never worked for any of the big chains but Ive always heard that breaks/lunches arent always guaranteed. Employee discount is 10%. If you average 20 hours or more each week over the course of the year you meet their minimum requirements for health insurance. Maybe its just where I work, but I have never been around so many nice, professional people in my life. Generally Target has a little higher income clientele. Lots of soccer moms.

Actually, the specifics of the lunch/break requirements probably vary from state to state: In California (I worked as a cashier/cart attendant), you gotta take a mandatory lunch before your 5 hour mark, and you can take a 15 minute break roughly every 2 hours (not required though). On the other hand, in Nebraska (where I work now as an intern), we gotta take a lunch before our six hour mark, and neither our pharmacist, nor myself, have ever taken a break. Also, on occasion, our pharmacist technically clocked out for lunch, but continued to work while eating (behind the scenes).

 

[Ackj]

I would respectfully disagree that it becomes any less manageable with higher volumes.

If things are going smoothly I don't think it would be any worse, but the problems would be harder to manage. There's no good workflow note system, so we end up printing labels and writing notes on them, and leaving that note on the counter. If Mrs. X walks up to pickup, the tech looks in the bin and sees that it's not there, then we have to look through notes and the profile to find out what the problem is, rather than just pulling up her profile and having a detailed account of every step that has been taken (called ins or md, left her a voicemail, advanced tablets, prior auth). More volume could mean more of these notes to keep track of, and it would be harder to remember all of them.

Same thing with the no refill/phone doctor. It's tough to go through the list of faxes and see which ones have been replied to and which ones have not. Sometimes the doctor will send a new rx but not respond to the request, so it looks like it's still waiting response and it gets re-transmitted since pdx doesn't always link the two orders.

 

[samuricool]

Actually, the specifics of the lunch/break requirements probably vary from state to state: In California (I worked as a cashier/cart attendant), you gotta take a mandatory lunch before your 5 hour mark, and you can take a 15 minute break roughly every 2 hours (not required though). On the other hand, in Nebraska (where I work now as an intern), we gotta take a lunch before our six hour mark, and neither our pharmacist, nor myself, have ever taken a break. Also, on occasion, our pharmacist technically clocked out for lunch, but continued to work while eating (behind the scenes).

Good to know, thanks for sharing. I've only worked for Target in one state and when I asked others they have always told me that the whole company follows California laws because they are the most strict. And the rules for pharmacists do vary state to state. I know here that pharmacists don't punch a clock because they are salary. PRNs are the exception since they are hourly, naturally.

 

[samuricool]

If things are going smoothly I don't think it would be any worse, but the problems would be harder to manage. There's no good workflow note system, so we end up printing labels and writing notes on them, and leaving that note on the counter. If Mrs. X walks up to pickup, the tech looks in the bin and sees that it's not there, then we have to look through notes and the profile to find out what the problem is, rather than just pulling up her profile and having a detailed account of every step that has been taken (called ins or md, left her a voicemail, advanced tablets, prior auth). More volume could mean more of these notes to keep track of, and it would be harder to remember all of them.

Same thing with the no refill/phone doctor. It's tough to go through the list of faxes and see which ones have been replied to and which ones have not. Sometimes the doctor will send a new rx but not respond to the request, so it looks like it's still waiting response and it gets re-transmitted since pdx doesn't always link the two orders.

Oh for sure. I think the ultimate lesson is experience. Since we have been on it for so long we are all use to doing such old school tactics like print screening, manually faxing notes, keeping a history of doctor faxes in a side bin, separate bins for pharmacist problems and another for input/insurance problems, etc. Luckily the staff at my store is seasoned and use to it. Another pharmacy with less experience or more turnover would find themselves struggling regularly.

 

[Sparda29]

I've gotta say, Micromerchant (Prime Rx) has been the best system I've ever worked with.