CVS

In December of 2020, my physician sent a prescription for a narcotic, to the CVS in my neighborhood of Coconut Grove, following a surgical procedure. When the local anesthetic he inserted began to wear off, five days later, I went to pick up the medication. The pharmacist, Richard Williams, informed me that CVS didn't stock the medicine and that I would have to go to an emergency room. CVS never contacted me to let me know about this but I was able to contact my physician and he issued an order for another narcotic, much stronger than I wanted to take but I was in too much pain to refuse. I asked Mr. Williams why I hadn't been notified so that I wouldn't need to be waiting and driving around and was shocked by his response. He asked, "Can't you just move along?"

I took no action at the time, mostly because, being a healthcare professional myself, I hesitate to report unprofessional interactions from people I should consider colleagues. However, a more recent encounter, this time by telephone, has made me decide to utilize Caremark so I never have the need to enter this CVS location, ever again. I also have no intention of choosing another pharmacy provider.

On February 28, I called to order a refill for one of my medications, Alendronate, a medicine that I take weekly. I called on March 2 because the next dose was due soon. I spoke to Mr. Williams, who told me that the medication hadn't arrived and that it would be ready in a day or two. On Thursday March 4, another pharmacy staff person told me the drug was "on backorder." She suggested that I should try another location and gave me a phone number to a branch in Homestead, 30 miles away. This presented a hardship as I had a medical procedure scheduled in Hollywood the next day and could miss the next dose of this important medication.
I ended up going into a CVS location at 1100 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines on my way to my procedure, and asking an associate if the medication was in stock. Not only did that store have the medication on location, the young associate arranged to cancel the hold at the Homestead location and fil it for me right there. The associates name (maybe pharmacy tech?) is Amira Abdullah, and she represents the level of professional care that I have come to expect from CVS. I picked up my last medication at the Coconut Grove location today. I will never return.