Please help. I AM Failing at CVS

[makeawish]

I am new to CVS and am feeling failing.
Last week, I was at one store doing avg. 400 scripts a day, and I left 7 pages of QP even though I stayed 1 more after closing.
I really don’t know how to pick up speed to improve efficiency.

The situation was.... The store just started virtual verification, which slowed down techs to do QP.
I worked with 2 technicians, and there were non-stop pick ups. So I took care of most of pick ups, and let the technician did QP. But there were a lot of phone calls with problems, so techs couldn't finish much of QPs.

So second day, I didn't even touch the QV2 to try to help counting, but there were sooooo many pick ups and a couple shingle shot patients with insurance issues, so I couldn't really help counting. I stayed 1 extra hour again, but there were 8 pages on QP.
I couldn’t sleep because of the stress, and am afraid going back to that store.

I really don't know how to pick up speed... Any advise for me??

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[Twentytwelve2]

Have you thought it is the inadequate staffing causing you to fall behind? Sounds like your team needs an additional clerk.

 

[makeawish]

Have you thought it is the inadequate staffing causing you to fall behind? Sounds like your team needs an additional clerk.

Yes. I heard they got cut tech hours after starting virtual verification. They thought it saves time, but it's not.

 

[Sine Cura]

If your store really fills 400-500 a day then don't be surprised to have 400-500 Rx picked up every day. If it's a 9-9 store then that's ~33-41 Rx/hr. If you have 2 techs only that's one glued to the in window and one glued to the out window.

 

[M0df]

You are not failing. The system is failing you.

Speed typically comes from muscle memory = the more you do the better you get.
Staying behind helps but not as much as you think. You plus 1 tech can do significantly more than just you cleaning up. Clearing QP by yourself might be a waste of time. How many scripts you think you will clear? 20? 30? If you decide you need to stay back, find better use of your time.

And while it sucks. 8 pages = 120 scripts is nothing for CVS as far as stuff being left behind.

 

[VA77]

Would you feel bad if you were told to dig a ditch with a spoon? You have to have an environment and the tools to succeed.

 

[WorthlessOxygen]

What happened to your riite aid offer? Sounded like you were leaving towards jumping over there

 

[DH1987]

I don't know much about CVS other than being an intern there for a few weeks back in 2016, but it sounds to me that you're doing everything you can. One tip I can offer: when you're having trouble like this, document everything you can about your shifts. Print screen your workload at the beginning of the day and a few times throughout the day, make sure the date and time is visible on the prints. Make a few notes of your efforts to control the workflow. This will help you defend yourself if anyone starts attacking you for underperforming. It has helped me once.

 

[Cupharmacy111]

definitely another clerk would help. Also doing double registers at pick up will help Bc the computers are soooo slow. you can help two patients at once for pick up. Multi tasking is key here. Sometimes if the patients Are sooooo slow putting in their card punching in their pin, I walk back to my computer and do qv1 Or I help another person on another register. But the key is to finish qv1 and qt. that way if you’re behind, and somethings not ready, you can fill it and verify it quickly.

 

[APN-59 rph]

I don't know much about CVS other than being an intern there for a few weeks back in 2016, but it sounds to me that you're doing everything you can. One tip I can offer: when you're having trouble like this, document everything you can about your shifts. Print screen your workload at the beginning of the day and a few times throughout the day, make sure the date and time is visible on the prints. Make a few notes of your efforts to control the workflow. This will help you defend yourself if anyone starts attacking you for underperforming. It has helped me once.

AND..It will help document your situation if a mistake slips past and the honcho's look for someone to blame...THAT is the real worry...maybe a discreet HIPPA cleansed snapshot from time to time too...

 

[makeawish]

What happened to your riite aid offer? Sounded like you were leaving towards jumping over

These all happened right after I turned it down. 🤮
I didn’t want to give up CVS, and a couple of Rite Aid stores were too far...

 

[makeawish]

definitely another clerk would help. Also doing double registers at pick up will help Bc the computers are soooo slow. you can help two patients at once for pick up. Multi tasking is key here. Sometimes if the patients Are sooooo slow putting in their card punching in their pin, I walk back to my computer and do qv1 Or I help another person on another register. But the key is to finish qv1 and qt. that way if you’re behind, and somethings not ready, you can fill it and verify it quickly.

Will make sure all the registers being used. And the problems for that store were always QP. Not enough manpower to count pills.

I worked at another busy store doing virtual verification today, but it was nice and smooth because I constantly had 3 to 4 techs. I feel a little better now.

 

[Cupharmacy111]

Good luck. I emphathize with you. It’s getting tougher every day esp with the vaccines. the phone calls are nonstop, people are getting antsy, and it’s all in all Just horrible some days. Don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t finish everything. Honestly you are doing the best you can do.

Definitely any pharmacists best asset is techs and clerks. an added bonus for really good techs and clerks.

 

[thecoolpharmboi]

I am new to CVS and am feeling failing.
Last week, I was at one store doing avg. 400 scripts a day, and I left 7 pages of QP even though I stayed 1 more after closing.
I really don’t know how to pick up speed to improve efficiency.

The situation was.... The store just started virtual verification, which slowed down techs to do QP.
I worked with 2 technicians, and there were non-stop pick ups. So I took care of most of pick ups, and let the technician did QP. But there were a lot of phone calls with problems, so techs couldn't finish much of QPs.

So second day, I didn't even touch the QV2 to try to help counting, but there were sooooo many pick ups and a couple shingle shot patients with insurance issues, so I couldn't really help counting. I stayed 1 extra hour again, but there were 8 pages on QP.
I couldn’t sleep because of the stress, and am afraid going back to that store.

I really don't know how to pick up speed... Any advise for me??

Damn your particular store lacks staff. CVS sucks in terms of staffing. At Walgreens- with 400-500 scripts a day store you’d get at least 5 techs throughout the day...

 

[tallyDoc]

I am new to CVS and am feeling failing.
Last week, I was at one store doing avg. 400 scripts a day, and I left 7 pages of QP even though I stayed 1 more after closing.
I really don’t know how to pick up speed to improve efficiency.

The situation was.... The store just started virtual verification, which slowed down techs to do QP.
I worked with 2 technicians, and there were non-stop pick ups. So I took care of most of pick ups, and let the technician did QP. But there were a lot of phone calls with problems, so techs couldn't finish much of QPs.

So second day, I didn't even touch the QV2 to try to help counting, but there were sooooo many pick ups and a couple shingle shot patients with insurance issues, so I couldn't really help counting. I stayed 1 extra hour again, but there were 8 pages on QP.
I couldn’t sleep because of the stress, and am afraid going back to that store.

I really don't know how to pick up speed... Any advise for me??

Its not you. you need more staff... I was an intern there years ago. Do your best and make sure you take care of your health. As for extra technician help. Don't let it break you... keep your head up

 

[sfachine]

These all happened right after I turned it down. 🤮
I didn’t want to give up CVS, and a couple of Rite Aid stores were too far...

I would not worry about it.There are probably many with the same issues as your store

 

[iamapharmacist]

I am new to CVS and am feeling failing.
Last week, I was at one store doing avg. 400 scripts a day, and I left 7 pages of QP even though I stayed 1 more after closing.
I really don’t know how to pick up speed to improve efficiency.

The situation was.... The store just started virtual verification, which slowed down techs to do QP.
I worked with 2 technicians, and there were non-stop pick ups. So I took care of most of pick ups, and let the technician did QP. But there were a lot of phone calls with problems, so techs couldn't finish much of QPs.

So second day, I didn't even touch the QV2 to try to help counting, but there were sooooo many pick ups and a couple shingle shot patients with insurance issues, so I couldn't really help counting. I stayed 1 extra hour again, but there were 8 pages on QP.
I couldn’t sleep because of the stress, and am afraid going back to that store.

I really don't know how to pick up speed... Any advise for me??

You're not failing. That's just a typical CVS. Just find another job. It's only gonna get worse.

CVS logic: Oh, you're behind 10 pages on your queue? If we take away more hours that will motivate you to work harder and faster! While at it, why don't we add more tasks for you to do so that if you don't get them done we can incentivize that to fire you and hire someone for $30/hr.

 

[PharmtoCS]

You're not failing at CVS. CVS is the one failing you and their patients/customers.

 

[dmd20000]

I work at CVS and we used to do 400 on Mondays but due to COVID we do 300 a day and we constantly have 3 techs and a pharmacist. With only 2 techs you can safely do 250 scripts a day and if each one overworked then 300 a day.

 

[Sine Cura]

inb4 90 as 3

 

[Deja]

are you sure that store does 400 scripts a day? no way you only get 2 techs at that volume... and when you are already behind like this the manager just need to over schedule and clean everything up or it will never get cleared

 

[mentos]

Does your store have a robot? If so, print those first and then the fast movers. You should be able to fill a basket full of fast mover labels, grab them and slap labels on them pretty quickly. For hand packs, are you staging the bottles? Take about 10 labels in a basket in alphabetical order and take one trip to grab the bottles vs walking back and forth with one label at a time. Honestly, ignore the phones for a few min and you'll get way more done.

 

[O.State]

Does your store have a robot? If so, print those first and then the fast movers. You should be able to fill a basket full of fast mover labels, grab them and slap labels on them pretty quickly. For hand packs, are you staging the bottles? Take about 10 labels in a basket in alphabetical order and take one trip to grab the bottles vs walking back and forth with one label at a time. Honestly, ignore the phones for a few min and you'll get way more done.

thats the method I use as an overnight with 15-16 pages readyfill

1.) print all robot, fold and place in baskets in print order
- let the robot run

2.) print stock bottles, boxes, birth control, slappers in general
- scan and place those for final verif.

3.) last, print all the other crap and count after verifying 1 & 2 above

Usually works well for me and Im alone (but I also dont have as many customers as normal business hours)

 

[johnpharm01]

I am new to CVS and am feeling failing.
Last week, I was at one store doing avg. 400 scripts a day, and I left 7 pages of QP even though I stayed 1 more after closing.
I really don’t know how to pick up speed to improve efficiency.

The situation was.... The store just started virtual verification, which slowed down techs to do QP.
I worked with 2 technicians, and there were non-stop pick ups. So I took care of most of pick ups, and let the technician did QP. But there were a lot of phone calls with problems, so techs couldn't finish much of QPs.

So second day, I didn't even touch the QV2 to try to help counting, but there were sooooo many pick ups and a couple shingle shot patients with insurance issues, so I couldn't really help counting. I stayed 1 extra hour again, but there were 8 pages on QP.
I couldn’t sleep because of the stress, and am afraid going back to that store.

I really don't know how to pick up speed... Any advise for me??

I would redefine your goals. When you say you are failing because you are behind, you have aligned your personal goals with that of the company. I would set my goals to keep a job until I could find another, be liked, be low profile, and avoid significant errors. Let CVS fix CVS.

 

[Rainbowdash]

If you have 2 techs, then one should be at the register/pulling for production. The other one should just be doing production. You should be at the in window--taking rxs/qt/calls/qv1.

 

[Rukn]

Just let it all fall to ****

 

[makeawish]

Updates..
Yes. You were

You're not failing at CVS. CVS is the one failing you and their patients/customers.

yes, you were right. I can't win.
I was at the same store on Memorial Day, which I only had 4hrs, with 2 techs. Line was none stop all 4 hours, and there were 8 pages on QP and kept dropping more until close. How can I win??? CVS is failing us!

 

[watchfulwaiting1957]

What happened to your riite aid offer? Sounded like you were leaving towards jumping over there

I don't blame her for not wanting to work for a company who's CEO did 8 YEARS IN PRISON for fraud (Martin Grass) and just got out of jail some years ago. RiteAid is in bad shape, they had to sell half of their top preforming stores to WAGs just to get some breathing room on their MASSIVE debt.

I would not be surprised at all if Rite Aid enters bankruptcy in the next five years. In my opinion, Rite Aid is not a company worth working for.
"

Current Rite Aid Probability Of Bankruptcy​

37%​

"

What is Rite Aid Probability Of Bankruptcy? RAD | Macroaxis

Rite Aid's likelihood of distress is above 80% at the present time. It has very high risk of going through financial crunch in the upcoming years.

www.macroaxis.com

"Rite Aid Corp. former Chief Executive Martin L. Grass was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a massive accounting fraud at the drugstore chain his father co-founded. The sentence is one of the harshest handed out to a top executive in the recent wave of accounting scandals"

Rite Aid's Ex- CEO Sentenced To 8 Years for Accounting Fraud - WSJ

www.wsj.com

 

[WorthlessOxygen]

I don't blame her for not wanting to work for a company who's CEO did 8 YEARS IN PRISON for fraud (Martin Grass) and just got out of jail some years ago. RiteAid is in bad shape, they had to sell half of their top preforming stores to WAGs just to get some breathing room on their MASSIVE debt.

I would not be surprised at all if Rite Aid enters bankruptcy in the next five years. In my opinion, Rite Aid is not a company worth working for.
"

Current Rite Aid Probability Of Bankruptcy​

37%​

"

What is Rite Aid Probability Of Bankruptcy? RAD | Macroaxis

Rite Aid's likelihood of distress is above 80% at the present time. It has very high risk of going through financial crunch in the upcoming years.

www.macroaxis.com

"Rite Aid Corp. former Chief Executive Martin L. Grass was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a massive accounting fraud at the drugstore chain his father co-founded. The sentence is one of the harshest handed out to a top executive in the recent wave of accounting scandals"

Rite Aid's Ex- CEO Sentenced To 8 Years for Accounting Fraud - WSJ

www.wsj.com

I don't see how Grass is relevant given he's been gone so long. The stores that I know of which were sold to Walgreens were mainly low tier unprofitable locations. Rite aid also finally posted an unexpected profit last quarter. I don't think they're in an extraordinarily competitive place right now but I don't think they're going to go bankrupt. Even if they do, there will likely be a buyout that lets many/most employees remain with whatever company buys them.

Overall I guess I just don't think their job security is drastically worse than any other chain right now. Still sucks of course.

 

[WorthlessOxygen]

I don't blame her for not wanting to work for a company who's CEO did 8 YEARS IN PRISON for fraud (Martin Grass) and just got out of jail some years ago. RiteAid is in bad shape, they had to sell half of their top preforming stores to WAGs just to get some breathing room on their MASSIVE debt.

I would not be surprised at all if Rite Aid enters bankruptcy in the next five years. In my opinion, Rite Aid is not a company worth working for.
"

Current Rite Aid Probability Of Bankruptcy​

37%​

"

What is Rite Aid Probability Of Bankruptcy? RAD | Macroaxis

Rite Aid's likelihood of distress is above 80% at the present time. It has very high risk of going through financial crunch in the upcoming years.

www.macroaxis.com

"Rite Aid Corp. former Chief Executive Martin L. Grass was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a massive accounting fraud at the drugstore chain his father co-founded. The sentence is one of the harshest handed out to a top executive in the recent wave of accounting scandals"

Rite Aid's Ex- CEO Sentenced To 8 Years for Accounting Fraud - WSJ

www.wsj.com

I don't see how Grass is relevant given he's been gone so long. The stores that I know of which were sold to Walgreens were mainly low tier unprofitable locations. Rite aid also finally posted an unexpected profit last quarter. I don't think they're in an extraordinarily competitive place right now but I don't think they're going to go bankrupt. Even if they do, there will likely be a buyout that lets many/most employees remain with whatever company buys them.

Overall I guess I just don't think their job security is drastically worse than any other chain right now. Still sucks of course.

 

[projektreverb]

You’re not failing CVS. CVS Is failing to give you the tools to do your job.

 

[watchfulwaiting1957]

I don't see how Grass is relevant given he's been gone so long. The stores that I know of which were sold to Walgreens were mainly low tier unprofitable locations. Rite aid also finally posted an unexpected profit last quarter. I don't think they're in an extraordinarily competitive place right now but I don't think they're going to go bankrupt. Even if they do, there will likely be a buyout that lets many/most employees remain with whatever company buys them.

Overall I guess I just don't think their job security is drastically worse than any other chain right now. Still sucks of course.

I respectfully disagree with some of what you stated. I think Rite Aid job security is much worse then WAGs or the big red three letter. Yes, when the buy out of the ~2,000 remaining Rite Aid pharmacies comes many of the former Rite Aid employees will have a job under the new ownership, however many WILL NOT. Take for example some of the stores WAGs bought in N.C. from Rite Aid in the recent sell off. If there was a Rite Aid within 1 mile of a WAGs store it was terminated within 18 months after the purchase. This was to lower competition for the existing WAGs store and many of these former Rite Aid employees did not find pharmacy work after. They were buying a local monopoly and customer lists. They did not care about the actual pharmacy.

They are still in a terrible place financially directly BECAUSE of the illegal actions of their former CEO. The CEO cooked their books in order to fraudulently make them appear much better than reality so they could secure loans to purchase new stores at bloated prices and expand. The debt from those actions has never been fully repaid or completely mitigated. Compare this to a direct competitor company like Big Three Letter which has so much capital on hand it purchased a INSURANCE company with CASH.

Now when Amazon opens up pharmacies in Whole Foods, I think that will be the nail in the coffin for Rite Aid.

 

[WorthlessOxygen]

The debt from those actions has never been fully repaid or completely mitigated. Compare this to a direct competitor company like Big Three Letter which has so much capital on hand it purchased a INSURANCE company with CASH.

Are you referring to the Aetna deal? Didn't CVS take on ~$45 billion in debt to finance the acquisition?

I'll be honest though, when it comes to corporate structure/finances I'm in way over my head.

. Yes, when the buy out of the ~2,000 remaining Rite Aid pharmacies comes many of the former Rite Aid employees will have a job under the new ownership, however many WILL NOT. Take for example some of the stores WAGs bought in N.C. from Rite Aid in the recent sell off. If there was a Rite Aid within 1 mile of a WAGs store it was terminated within 18 months after the purchase.

Yeah I know a lot of the stores ended up closing and screwing over former RAD employees. I'm not sure I'd trust Walgreens job security much more with their semi recent layoffs though.

I don't know, I guess I just don't buy into the rite aid is dying hype any more. They've been predicted to go bankrupt for as long as I can remember.

 

[watchfulwaiting1957]

Are you referring to the Aetna deal? Didn't CVS take on ~$45 billion in debt to finance the acquisition?

I'll be honest though, when it comes to corporate structure/finances I'm in way over my head.

Yeah I know a lot of the stores ended up closing and screwing over former RAD employees. I'm not sure I'd trust Walgreens job security much more with their semi recent layoffs though.

I don't know, I guess I just don't buy into the rite aid is dying hype any more. They've been predicted to go bankrupt for as long as I can remember.

I think the price was closer to 70 billion not 45 billion and they paid "Under the terms of the transaction, each outstanding share of Aetna common stock is being exchanged for $145.00 in cash and 0.8378 shares " using cash according to my sources. I'm not aware of CVS taking out a loan for the merger but I would love to be corrected! 🙂

 

[WorthlessOxygen]

I think the price was closer to 70 billion not 45 billion and they paid "Under the terms of the transaction, each outstanding share of Aetna common stock is being exchanged for $145.00 in cash and 0.8378 shares " using cash according to my sources. I'm not aware of CVS taking out a loan for the merger but I would love to be corrected! 🙂

CVS Health funded the cash portion of the acquisition through existing cash on hand and debt financing. In anticipation of the closing of the acquisition, in March 2018, CVS Health issued an aggregate of $40 billion of unsecured senior notes at a favorable, weighted-average blended rate of approximately 4.19%. The notes have maturities ranging from 2 to 30 years. Additionally, in December 2017, CVS Health entered into a $5 billion unsecured term loan agreement. The term loan facility under the term loan agreement consists of a $3 billion three-year tranche and a $2 billion five-year tranche. The term loan facility allows for borrowings at various rates that are dependent, in part, on the Company’s debt ratings and require the Company to pay a weighted average quarterly commitment fee, regardless of usage.

 

[watchfulwaiting1957]

CVS Health funded the cash portion of the acquisition through existing cash on hand and debt financing. In anticipation of the closing of the acquisition, in March 2018, CVS Health issued an aggregate of $40 billion of unsecured senior notes at a favorable, weighted-average blended rate of approximately 4.19%. The notes have maturities ranging from 2 to 30 years. Additionally, in December 2017, CVS Health entered into a $5 billion unsecured term loan agreement. The term loan facility under the term loan agreement consists of a $3 billion three-year tranche and a $2 billion five-year tranche. The term loan facility allows for borrowings at various rates that are dependent, in part, on the Company’s debt ratings and require the Company to pay a weighted average quarterly commitment fee, regardless of usage.

Well I'm not sure Rite Aid would qualify for a loan of that magnitude given it's current state. Who knows, maybe Amazon will buyout Rite Aid and then they will become a super chain.

 

[SKRATCH]

Yes. I heard they got cut tech hours after starting virtual verification. They thought it saves time, but it's not.

We got a 20% staffing cut when starting VV. It might be even more, but it's so low it doesn't even matter anymore. VV does save a significant amount of time, especially when you're by yourself, but you have dead workstations all day long and nothing gets done.