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I use Duane Reade. I'm not sure how far into Jersey they go, but I'm in Jersey City. The pharmacists know my name and face. Idk if that's bad because maybe I go more than other people, or good that their normal client base is small enough that they can have personal relations even while being a massive chain. It's been the same group of pharmacists/techs for 2 years now.
As someone who knows a lot about retail pharmacy chains, I'd advice to stay away. It's all about the bottom-line for them, which is a dangerous concept in healthcare. They treat it like a fast-food joint! They place high demands and expectations on the pharmacy staff (prescription quotas, vaccine quotas, monitoring drive-thru and telephone wait-times, extreme micro-managing, etc.). It's nearly impossible for pharmacists to take proper bathroom and lunch breaks, especially in the busy stores.
Pharmacy Techs are paid crap, despite being knowledgeable individuals that require a high school diploma and certification to do their job. Staff hours are cut on a month-to-month basis and these pharmacies are rarely staffed properly. Techs can go from full-time to part-time at the drop of a hat. It's no surprise the turn-around for pharmacy staff is usually high, they burn-out quickly. It's slightly better at grocery and big-box store pharmacies. I would stick to those or independent pharmacies, although their survival is also on the line due to PBM's and the big chains making deals and buy-outs. However, that's another topic for another day.
I really like our local mom 'n pop pharmacy. The pharmacist is always on the ball and ... amazing ... he delivers to the house after 5:30 pm if someone cannot get out. The big chains are good places to buy, perfume, and shampoo on sale or two/for/one deals. If you need a drug 'compounded' in a chain pharm., just fuggedit.
I use CVS as I travel between NC and NJ, it's very easy to get a prescription transferred
Yeah that's the consideration for me. I used to travel a lot and needed prescriptions in different cities. I could possibly go to a more local one now that I'm not traveling as much, but the Duane Read I use is right in my transit station. Makes it easy to pick up meds on the way home from anywhere.
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If you need a drug 'compounded' in a chain pharm., just fuggedit.
