Has your local pharmacy closed unexpectedly? We want to hear about it
Does your local pharmacy close at unexpected times? The Star recently reported on unannounced pharmacy closures in Olathe, and we want to know where else this problem is occurring in the metro area.
Pharmacy closures, often due to lack of sufficient staffing, have been causing problems for Kansas City area residents. Many patients rely on pharmacies being open during reliable hours in order to schedule vaccine appointments, pick up prescriptions and access medication on short notice.
Residents reported this issue at several Walgreens pharmacies, which is particularly worrisome for those with military health insurance. Walgreens is one of the main pharmacy providers for the military insurance group Tricare, meaning closures could impact servicemembers’ access to medication and other services.
While the cause of closures is not always clear, many pharmacy employees are facing increased responsibilities despite staffing shortages. Tasks like administering COVID-19 tests and vaccines now often fall to technicians on top of their regular pharmacy duties.
“The amount of abuse from customers and lack of resources makes people leave pretty fast,” says Kenzi Palmer, who used to work as a pharmacy technician at a CVS in Kansas City. “The pay is not high enough for the amount of work.”
Have you noticed pharmacy closures? Fill out this form to tell us about your experiences.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
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