A point of information to Ann Arborites who may be looking for a new pharmacy,
what with Mindells closing down.  I was calling some of the locally owned
paharmacies in my neighborhood to get quotes on medicines my family needs
regularly to help me choose a new family pharmacist.

I was treated shabbily by a short-sighted pharmacist at Food and Drug Mart
on the corner of Packard and Stadium.  I realize that the pharmacy may have
been busy and it may have been a bad time to answer questions.  (In fact, once
the possibility was brought up, I started asking before i went into my
questions whenI called subsequent places.  Instead of using one of the myriad
polite ways available to tell me it was a bad time, this person chose to
inform me that he didn't have time for me because he had already had real
customers.

Now, as it happens, I was offering him somewhere in the neighborhood of $200
in business every month as well as all the little incidentals that come up
from time to time.  Maybe he'd doing so well that it seems like peanuts to
him.  Whatever his reason, I chose another pharmacy.

48 responses total.

  Good for you. Never reward shabby service.

I opt for Meijer's. I have come to know the pharmacist by his first name, and
he knows  and
usually asks me how I am doing. He is never too busy to answer a question.

Meijer on Ann Arbor/Saline rd. Good prices on drugs, too. 

For Example, I had a 5 day prednesone prescription that Arbor quoted at 9.00
Meijer's was 4.76 for 5 pills. 

I heartily recommend you stay away from Wenk's. I went there last summer
when I injured my back and needes a painkiller prescription filled. I left
there in tears. 
The pharmacist, an elderly white-haired gentleman, would not fill my
prescription because it was for a controlled substance (Vicodin) and I
had never been to Wenk's before. He would not call my doctor to confirm
the prescription, and he actually told me to "get out" of his store. I
was upset partly at being suspected of pushing drugs, but mostly because
I was in unbearable pain and could barely stand at the time. I still
intend to report him to the store owner, and I may even give him a copy
of this item, if it's OK, to show him that offending one customer is not
offending just one customer.

 He was no gentleman. 

Where is Wenks?  I'd like to be sure to avoid them!  I certainly *never*
reward bad service ... but from the looks of the place I chose I could be
pharmacy shopping again in a couple of years.  (I always go for Mom and Pop
operations when they're available, but they tend not to be very stable.)

Is it legal for a pharmacist to refuse to fill a legitimate prescription?
Did you tell your doctor? Did you speak to the manager? That was really
outrageous behavior.

Wenk's is on Stadium, somewhere near Tappan Middle School.  I think they've
moved across the street, or something, since I was a student at Tappan.

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Yuck, those are real pharmacy horror stories. I get my prescriptions
at Arbor Drug, on Liberty near Stadium. The pharmacy department is
efficient and I've never had trouble getting through on the phone.

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Our family has been using the Dexter Pharmacy for the last several
years.  Although it's a bit of a drive, it's very close to our family
doctor's office there.  The pharmacy has been good to us (although
when they are busy, they are busy--they do wait on their counter
even when busy, though).  

We live in Dexter and think they are tops.  Phone orders are prompt.  
Definitely customer oriented.

One time I went to the doctor and asked why the 15 mg capsules and the 20 mg
capusles seemed to have the same effect.  Not sure of the numbers but you get
the idea.  Well, it tuned out that Dexter Pharmacy gave me the same capsules
the second time even though the prescription and the label that Dexter put
outside the bottle were for a larger dose.  

Everyone can make mistakes, but this was a controlled substance and they
didn't do anything to apologize to me.  I started going to Wal MArt after that
and the price was substantially better.

I had used Perry's at different locations since moving here in 1984.
Man, when they changed, they changed! Under Rite Aid, they posted a
sign at the pharmacy that due to a new computer setup, all prescriptions
would take a minimum of 30 minutes, please by patient until things
improved. When I asked the pharmacist about it, she did not appear to
expect any improvement. The sign was still there a month ago.
My guess is that all prescriptions go to a computer in another state
and come back to the local computer before being refilled. If you don't
like it, you can lump it.

I have had very good service with Arbor Drugs since then. Very courteous
at the pharmacy there.

This is a very interesting item for me.  I often send patients out with
prescriptions and (occasionally) suggest a particular pharmacy (depending on
the patients location, the drug, etc).  However, for the most part I try to
stay away from "endorsing" anyone in particular.

Nevertheless, Lucky Drugs on Main street has made a great deal of my patients
happy.  They seem to be very curteous <sp> and have delivery service (at least
for the elderly or home-bound).  Up there someone said Vicodin was not filled
for them because it is a "controlled" drug.  Well, there are several levels
of controlled drugs, and any one you require a prescription to get is
included.  Vicodin is not as much "abused" as some others, and, if you were
obviously in pain, the pharmacist _should_ have filled your prescription right
away.

Is it legal for a pharmacist to refuse?  Absolutely!  Pharmacists carry
liability for what they dispense, and they see many prescriptions each day.
If there is a particular _doctor_ who seems to be writing a lot of
prescriptions for highly abuse-potential drugs, a pharmacist might
reasonably conclude the doctor is making money by selling the Rx's (do any
docs really do that kind of thing?) and refuse to fill the prescription.

Pharmacies are really becoming more retail oriented, since the profit margin
on sales of drugs is narrower and narrower (especially with managed care
insurance).  Sure they want you to browse the store and "impulse buy" so they
can make more money, but I don't think very many of them are deliberate at
making you wait a long time for a prescription.  They just have several steps
they must follow in order to dispense the correct drug correctly, and be sure
they get paid correctly for it.

What I've noticed more and more, is the wide range of pricing for the same
drug(s).  Sure, newer drugs which have no generic equivelents yet are very
expensive, but generics can range as much as 100% in price from source to
source.  If my family needs several different drugs at any time I call around
for the prices.  I don't always buy everything from the same place and I've
saved as much as $60 or more by going to more than one source for 5 or 6
items.

Food and Drug on Packard and Stadium is usually a little high, they have
higher overhead and fewer sales than the chains do, but once they get to know
you they give good service.  Community Pharmacy on Packard and Platt is also
good that way.  I even like Krogers pharmacy.  But I will not give any of my
business to Meijers Pharmacy anymore since on two separate occasions
Pharmacists refused to fill prescriptions written by me, for my wife (who IS
a patient) with the explaination that "a Podiatrist can't write for that kind
of drug".  Well, according to the Michigan Board of Pharmacy and the Drug
Enforcement Agency I am authorized to prescribe ANY legitimate prescription
in ANY schedule of controlled drug.  Meijers is the only place I've ever
encountered this, and they have a managed care program which also excludes
Podiatry from coverage (at least they _had_, at one time...don't know the
current status).  Only reason they were able to discriminate against Podiatry
is due to a loophole included in the ERISA law which allows them to do it as
long as they are self-funded and self-administered.  All other insurance
companies are required to pay anyone licensed to perform covered services
(some legal restrictions for managed care, again.  Anyone want to guess how
I feel about managed care?)

If this item could develope a hirearchy of the good, better and best local
pharmacies based on service, price, convenience, etc...I will make sure to
offer these choices to my patients as part of my service to _them_.

This response has been erased.

You got any 50 mg. tablets of Stephen King?

 That reminds me: Ol' Pulp included Rite Aid very heavily into Insomnia. Made
me a little sick. Wonder if he got a little royalty on that one?

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Ricky, I can understand that you find pharmacists confused about filling
prescriptions written by podiatrists.  When I asked a group of University
Hospital pharmacists about this they all agreed they'd question any such
Rx for anything other than a very common drug with limited potential for
harm or abuse.  The same would hold true for veterinarians, dentists, and
others who are seeing to a very limited area of practice. 

Pharmacists may also refuse to fill any prescription they question or
which raises concerns, for whatever reason.  That is one of the built-in
safeguards against abuse, as you mentioned, but also serves to protect
patients. 

WADR Mary, I don't think any UoM Pharmacist would question an Rx from a DDS.
Since the dental school is part of the Univ I'd think there would be very
little question raised.  Most dentists, btw, also can prescribe in all
schedules of controlled drugs (but why can they perform nitrous oxide
anesthesia and IV sedation but Podiatrists can't...in Michigan at least, even
though we get the same training).

Just take a look at the provider roles at the UoM.  How many MD's?  DDS's?
DO's?  DVM's?  DPM's?  any wonder the pharmacists you talked to all agreed
they would question an Rx from a DPM?  Try the same Rx in Warren, Dearborn,
W. Bloomfield, etc.  No questions asked (unless, as you said, something 'looks
fishy', in which case any good pharmacist would question and/or refuse the
Rx).

The University Hospital pharmacists I spoke with said they'd not have a
problem with a vet or dentist's prescription as long is it was
appropriately written and fell within the scope of their practice.  But
they did seem reluctant to fill a podiatrist's Rx.  It is no doubt related
to their inexperience with this specialty. 

I am curious.  Would it be within the scope of your license to write a Rx
for anti-hypertensives or beta-blockers for your patients?  Your
non-patient neighbor?   Do you feel a pharmacy should be obligated
to fill such a prescription?

This response has been erased.

#22 first:      WADR = With All Due Respect.    

#22:
        The law defines primary care physicians as MD, DO and DPM.  DVM's and
DDS's are "allied", or sub-specialty, although they are certainly well trained
and have a broad scope of practice.  Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, as a
profession, has worked hard for many (many, many) decades attempting to
educate the general public and other professionals about our role in the
health care team.  No physician these days can practive in a vaccume...team
work is essential.
        As a primary care physician, and under the regulation of my state
pharmacy license and federal DEA registration, I am qualified and authorized
to write any prescription for any drug which is appropriate for any medical
necessity.  That's a long way of saying the only things I can't write for are
the schedule drugs which include LSD, marijuana, etc.  These are considered
to have no medical use (except in a few very specific cases, and even then
the use is closely scrutinized).
        On the other hand, no pharmacist is obligated to fill _any_
prescription if s/he feels there is something "fishy" about it, or it could
potentially do harm to the patient.
        Since I do not specialize in general medicine, I do not make a habit
of writing for drugs to treat general conditions.  Instead I refer my patients
back to their primary physicians and often will talk to the doc to suggest
a particular drug, therapy or diagnostic plan.  If their doc is not responsive
to what I can see as obvious needs of a patient I'll educate the patient to
put their doc on the line for adequate explanation or seek a second opinion.
        I also refrain from writing prescriptions for non-patients, whether
neigbors or family.  In my view, although this is done all the time by many
physicians as "a favor", this is medical negligence.  Unless you can first
obtain a complete history, and are certain there are no medical complications,
current drugs or allergies, or other such conditions, prescribing any
medications (even most OTC meds) is sort of like playing Russian Roulette.
Usually no problem, but in a worst case scenario you could kill someone.
(I had a lot of flack from my family because I refused to write a refill Rx
for my mother-in-law some time ago.  Once she made it to her doc for the
refill he saw she actually needed a different drug and changed her meds.  If
I'd have "done her the favor" to make it easy for her I would have potentially
caused her suffering).  But, in fact, yes...I _could_ write such
prescriptions.
        Podiatrists are physicians and _surgeons_.  We treat people, not just
feet.  In the operating room, working closely with the anesthesiologist, we
have complete responsibility for the entire patients welfare and life.  In
emergency situations we are reasonably expected to be able to perform
utilizing the proper drugs and techniques, no matter what the medical
emergency.  Sure, I've never delivered a baby, but I've been trained in
emergency labor and delivery.  Does that mean I'd be willing to run next door
when my neighbors water broke and scream "boil some water!...get some
rags!...bring me some towels!" (characature if you didn't recognize it).  No
way...I'd do my best to contact her OB, get her to the hospital, and stay with
her until her labor was well under the control and supervision of someone who
is more exerienced and knowledgeble than I.
        I hope your pharmacist friends will find some time to educate
themselves on the training of DPM's, scope of practice (which is not the same
in every state, btw.  We get far more training than our legal scope allows
in Michigan.) and role in reducing morbidity and mortality as integral members
of the health care team.  I'm very proud of that...but not in any "ivory
tower".  Calling 1-800-footcare will get you to the APMA (national
Association).  They also have a web page up now but I don't have the URL at
hand at the moment.

http://www.apma.org/

Thanks steve...it shoulda been obvious to me!    8^]

Well, this doesn't have anything to do with your local drugstores, but here
is a recent incident which happened to me.  For a while now, I have been
taking a .25 mg tab of amitriptyline (sp) each night before bed.  My previous
doctor, who also has a ph.d. in biochemistry, suggested that it might be
helpful in reducing the occurence of severe headaches which I frequently have.
(It has worked to an extent and my now doc does not want to change any of my
meds yet)  I usually buy a 3 months supply, in MD for 5.95.  Since moving to
WV, and changing insurances, I have had the opportunity to get this refilled.
My current insurance charges $10 for each prescription unless it is under that
price and then you pay the actual price.  Well, this new insurance also only
allows a 30 day supply.  They tried to charge me 6.95 for that month's supply.
I went ballistic.  I asked the pharmacist what the cost was for a 3 month's
supply, and while it is more expensive here in WV (7.95), it is still cheaper
than what I was charged for the 30 day supply.  I asked him who set the prices
and he said that the insurance sent back the prices for the prescriptions.
I have called and spoken to the insurance company several times, but each time
they say they will get back to me and never do.  I am still pursuing this
because we get our insurance through the feds and they don't like these kinds
of practices.  If I don't soon get response from them, I will turn it over
to the feds and let them deal with it.  I guess these insurance companies are
not getting enough money through managed care, although this company is twice
as expensive as those in the metro area, so they inflate the prices of generic
drugs so they can earn even more money.  What do all of you think?  Have any
of you ever encountered this problem?  I think the insurance company was
shocked that I was asking questions about their practice.

I think 'good for you' for questioning such practices.  If more people did,
maybe we'd have a better health care system.  Good luck in your pursuit of
the truth (and hopefully a better price for your prescriptions).

It's not unusual for insurance to cover only a 30 or 60 day supply.  But there
should be a simpler solution to your dilemma.  The insurance company has a
fee schedule with the fee they will _pay_ for each item...they wouldn't be
caught trying to _set prices_!  THAT would be an anti-trust violation, heh.
Also, it is a function of the locality whether a drug or service costs more
or less than another location.  That revolves around overhead, liability
exposure, shipping costs, etc.

I'm not sure what you describe, though.  When you bought a 3 mos supply in
MD for $5.95, was that the entire cost?  Did you have insurance which paid
the rest (if any)?  How much did _the insurance_ pay?

One way you can 'get around' the problem, if your doctor will go along with
you on it, is for him/her to write your Rx for a 3 month supply and "sig: take
as directed" rather than "take one at night".  If the pharmacist asks, you
tell him/her you take them 3-4 times each day, then you'll get what is a 3
month supply for you, but a 1 month supply according to how the pharmacist
interprets the script.  Not illegal, but walking pretty close to the line,
I'd think.

Well the insurance company really did set the price.  Yes, the cost in MD was
for 5.95 total...3 month supply or 100 pills.  I understand the price in WV
is higher because of the smaller orders they place (fewer people per capita).
and so I don't quibble with that.  That is just regional taxes and such which
sets this price.  The problem I have is that the insurance company actually
did charge me 695 for 30 pills, when I could buy, from the pharmacy, 100 pills
for 7 something.  The price actually came back from the insurance companies'
computer..  I bought the 100 pills for 7 something from the pharmacy and I
am pursuing an answer from the insurance company.  Do you really think it is
illegal for them to do this?   That's interesting...

It sounds legal, but I don't like the practice.  If you think there is a real
question you should contact your state insurance commisioner and/or the
medical board or pharmacy board.  If they know what is going on they can
explain it to you, perhaps, or take action against the company, or pharmacist,
if indicated.

Hmmm, I think I will do just that after one more try with the insurance
company that never gives me answers.  I also think I will tell them I am going
to do that...see what they say!  I'll let you know.

One thing you can do is simply not involve the insurance company when you buy
that medicine.  I do that.  When I know that a "scrip" is inexpensive, I
answer "no" when the pharmacist asks whether I have insurance.  

The insurance company doesn't have any right to interfere unless you invite
it, right?

*sigh*

Well, I'm now looking for my fourth pharamacy in three years.  Arbor drug
bought out Food and Drug Mary, which I went to after Community Pharmacy
closed, which I had transferred to when Mindell's closed.

I hate to try Wenks after Katie's experience -- but it's the last privately
owned pharmacy I know of in Ann Arbor -- except Lucky, which I lik, but OH!
the parking!

Anyone know of any other locally owned pharmacies in the East Ann Arbor/West
Ypsi area?  Preferrably with reasonable parking and good customer service...

The only time in ten years we tried to fill a prescription, this August, we
stopped at Lucky Drugs (for a common antibiotic) and were told they were no
longer a pharmacy, just a 'drug store'.  I called K-Mart, Kroger, and I think
Catherine McAuley on Stadium (may have been some other place) and the prices
were in ascending order, the K-mart half the highest price.  Got this same
prescription filled at Maple Village K-Mart and at a K-Mart near Mackinaw City
(the city east of there) by very courteous and prompt pharmacists.  K-Mart
also has 90% alcohol at 2/3 the Kroger price, and we got our glasses there
once when they used to make glasses, cheap.  The newest Kroger west of town
has a waiting area with a TV (or you can wander off and look at magazines).
They must plan on long waits at the pharmacy.  I think Kroger had cheaper
multivitamins than K-Mart, or was it vice versa.

Yeah, but both Kroger and K-mart are chains.  I want a locally owned Mom and
Pop.  I guess it's Wenks.

        I used Maple Drugs until they closed then tried Rite-aid. 1 month
later,thoroughly disgusted, I left the lower prices to go to McCauley's
on W. Stadium. I paid a higher price but got excellent service. Some of
the people from Maple Drugs were then working there. They knew me by
name, when I called in I didn't even have to tell them who I was, they
knew by voice. Always friendly even when busy.

Misti, would you pay a Mom and Pop twice the price for the same exact drug?
Granted K-Mart's headquarters is not local, but the employees are.  And the
things they sell are not made locally in either case.  I have found all the
K-Mart employees, many of them long-term, to be very competent.  In fact
someone in the film department was more competent that I was, after I bought
some film and managed to expose it putting it in my camera in teh store, she
replaced it for me for free with a new good roll.
        Why are drug prices higher in locally owned stores?  Do the drug
companies charge more to retailers with lower sales volume?
        For information on a drug, rather than asking the pharmacist, you can
look in the Physician's Drug Reference (in theh library, prescription and
nonprescription versions) and at the package insert.  Or on-line.

It depends on the original price of the drug, Sindi.  For a 5.96 anti-biotic,
yes, I would.  For my $120 a month prescription, I can't.

Yes, the bigger chains get discounts from the manufacturers for buying in
bulk.

The reason for supporting Mom-n-Pop retailers is that is keeps "pseudo choice"
at bay for just a little longer.  When there are many small shops competing
for your dollar, they will tend to differentiate themselves someone to get
an edge with a segment of the market.  When Rite Aid and Arbor own the town,
if they decide that it isn't cost effective to stock certain drugs, you're
stuck if you need that drug.   You either can't get it at all, or you pay
quite a bit extra and wait quite a while for the pharmacy to "special order"
it for you.

The same is true of drug stores, clothing stores, food stores, and every other
type of retail I can think of.  

In addition to that, the employees are local -- but they aren't getting the
profits.  They get a little buttermilk, while the cream goes to Grand Rapids,
St, Louis, or New York.  I prefer to support my own community when I can. 
No, it's true, most (all?) of the pharamcueticals I need are made elsewhere
... that can't be helped.  But while there's a local pharmacist selling his
or her wares from a locally owned shop, I'll be shopping there.

When Arbor and Rite Aid own the town completely, I'll figure out which is the
lesser of two evils.  Or maybe I'll buy by mail.  That's even cheaper and a
whole lot more convenient.

The Village II pharmacy on Maple is, I think, an offshoot of the
Dexter Village pharmacy, but since you were asking for places on
the east side of town, and maybe Dexter isn't local enough...
Anyway, we've dealt with Dexter Village Pharmacy for years and
are glad there's a similar place here in Ann Arbor now (since
they tend to be willing to stock the drugs we order when other
places won't).

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss