Why (SDN) Pharmacist Stink

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I've become really jaded about pharmacists who whine and complain about corporate pharmacy. I bet my state board could make a rule that says pharmacists are not allowed to take lunch/bathroom breaks and they would receive zero letters in opposition. Hell when they voted to get rid of technician ratios the chain pharmacists wrote over 60 letters in SUPPORT of it. Who needs ISIS when chain pharmacists are so willing to cut off their own head?

Because we fell asleep at the wheel about 10 years ago. I personally think it’s too far gone to save. Things will only get worst over the next 10 years before they get better.

 

[sozetone]

Nobody loves pharmacy, that's all BS. I love to do things like spend time with family and friends, eat out, travel, go on cruises, ski, golf, hike, watch movies, go to a sports game or concert. Working in a pharmacy for 8-12 hours is not on that list.

Let's see how many people "love" pharmacy when wages are in the $40s/hr.

There was a day long before all this chaos. You understand? people actually did this because they love what they do (or did).....if it doesnt matter, then go shovel S**t in the hot sun all day for 25 years.

 

[owlegrad]

why should the top get all the perks and bottom get scraps?

I am so confused by you. You realize that a union is a means for labor to prevent the bottom from just getting scraps?

 

[lane one]

Tricky question. But short answer - Fight fire with fire. Build a more patient-centric model, run at a loss for a few years (like Amazon did) to win patients, outspend on advertising, have it be pharmacist-run, pharmacist focused, etc.

The problem is, once you've allowed something to happen, and scale backtracking is near impossible.

Can anyone explain how this actually works? You love to throw around the "Amazon Story", but pharmacies don't operate that way due to third parties. How are you supposed to lower your prices to run at a loss (like Amazon did), and make money later? By doing what? Cloud based web services (like Amazon did)?

I get it, using technology to disrupt and take over industries is hot right now. But you can't just universally apply that playbook to every industry. I'd love the see the actual business plan and path to profitability that these start-ups have laid out cause I really don't see it.

 

[JamesL1585]

Can anyone explain how this actually works? You love to throw around the "Amazon Story", but pharmacies don't operate that way due to third parties. How are you supposed to lower your prices to run at a loss (like Amazon did), and make money later? By doing what? Cloud based web services (like Amazon did)?

I get it, using technology to disrupt and take over industries is hot right now. But you can't just universally apply that playbook to every industry. I'd love the see the actual business plan and path to profitability that these start-ups have laid out cause I really don't see it.

You can. A pharmacy I'm working with (who just sold for over $100m) suggested I run my business at a loss for a while to get the customer base up. Investors, if they believe in you, they'll fit the bill. You do this betting on a future behavioral change in new markets (i.e. subsidizing cost, for future adoption). Best example is a company called Nurx - they give you birth control at the cost of almost nothing for the first month to get more users on their site.

 

[JamesL1585]

Can anyone explain how this actually works? You love to throw around the "Amazon Story", but pharmacies don't operate that way due to third parties. How are you supposed to lower your prices to run at a loss (like Amazon did), and make money later? By doing what? Cloud based web services (like Amazon did)?

I get it, using technology to disrupt and take over industries is hot right now. But you can't just universally apply that playbook to every industry. I'd love the see the actual business plan and path to profitability that these start-ups have laid out cause I really don't see it.

Also in general, customer acquisition, and distribution of services in healthcare is more valuable than (+) and (-) revenue. Not sure if you're aware, but Pillpack, sold for $1 billion, they had fifty thousand customers nationwide. Amazon paid for their distribution capabilities, and licenses.

 

[lane one]

. Best example is a company called Nurx - they give you birth control at the cost of almost nothing for the first month to get more users on their site.

How do they have the ability to adjust prices to offer discounts in order to acquire new customers? Third party contracts don't allow for that flexibility, so is this cash only?

Also in general, customer acquisition, and distribution of services in healthcare is more valuable than (+) and (-) revenue. Not sure if you're aware, but Pillpack, sold for $1 billion, they had fifty thousand customers nationwide. Amazon paid for their distribution capabilities, and licenses.

I get that it's all about customer acquisition, but the services pharmacists provide (and can bill for) are not lucrative. So the game plan is:
1. Operate at loss
2. Acquire customers
3. Turn profit through E-health visits and other services with mid-levels?

 

[JamesL1585]

How do they have the ability to adjust prices to offer discounts in order to acquire new customers? Third party contracts don't allow for that flexibility, so is this cash only?

There's ways around this first point.

I get that it's all about customer acquisition, but the services pharmacists provide (and can bill for) are not lucrative. So the game plan is:
1. Operate at loss
2. Acquire customers
3. Turn profit through E-health visits and other services with mid-levels?

+ 1,2
3 - Depends on the model but sure that works for some firms (I've seen some that do that).

PM me if you have specific questions. Not shelving everything out here.

 

[JamesL1585]

That's not this person. This is the I am better then everyone else person.

Just better than you, friend.

 

[BidingMyTime]

But why would they work in the hospital setting vs. not working in community?

Because hospitals have a much larger number and diverse employees (they aren't all just pharmacists, they work in every department/job in the hospital) in the union, so the union would have more power. Hospitals can't just close down or fire everyone in the union to get rid of a union.

Unlike other places, where if a company wants to get rid of a union, they relocate the factory elsewhere, or just close all their minute care clinics (was that CVS or Walgreens that did that when the NP's decided to unionize?)

Originally also, unions vetted the quality of their members and offered verified, high quality/trained employees to the company. Now government has taken over this function (certainly by licensing pharmacists but with many other jobs as well), so unions don't have anything special to offer employers for hiring union workers.

 

[wagrxm2000]

Just better than you, friend.

Thank you for agreeing

 

[sozetone]

Because we fell asleep at the wheel about 10 years ago. I personally think it’s too far gone to save. Things will only get worst over the next 10 years before they get better.

No doubt, it's getting aweful right now....every few months more and more corporate objectives are launched to "stay competitive" "be Flexible".....etc. it all boils down to the pharmacist getting burnt out and losing money, hours, benefits, PTO, and more....

 

[samven582]

I am so confused by you. You realize that a union is a means for labor to prevent the bottom from just getting scraps?

Why are you confuse? Are you part of Union? I'm part of a union and this is not what I'm experiencing.

 

[CetiAlphaFive]

Why are you confuse? Are you part of Union? I'm part of a union and this is not what I'm experiencing.

Muh labor lmao

 

[ExpressMaiL]

Do you guys really think pharmacists will ever unionize? Haha.. That's like asking a class of pharmacy students to buy tickets to burning man. Expect a participation rate of 1%

I see pharmacists as pushovers. There are exceptions but for the most part, a contributing factor to the spineless workforce is the fact that pharmacists are easily replaced. It's a vicious cycle. I recently posted a pharmacy opening and there were people DRIVING 150+ miles to the interview. People from cities I didn't even know were coming to interview, including applicants who failed the Naplex, CPJE, etc. One applicant was unemployed for over 16 months after graduating from an established school, near top of his class. Goes to show that book smarts doesn't guarantee employment and many times street smarts / life experiences don't come with those who were camping in the library for the first 2 decades of their lives.

On the flip side, for those with life experiences ie. how to talk with people (pretty sad this is mentioned like this), patients, how to get along with coworkers/supervisors you dislike or treat you unfairly, there are many opportunities outside of pharmacy too...

 

[owlegrad]

Why are you confuse? Are you part of Union? I'm part of a union and this is not what I'm experiencing.

What are you experiencing?


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