This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
January 2020 saw a wave of concerns raised by pharmacists across the United States, as they accused major pharmacy chains of compromising public safety due to understaffed and chaotic workplaces.
According to The New York Times, pharmacists in dozens of states have struggled to keep up with an increasing number of tasks, including filling prescriptions, administering flu shots, and meeting corporate performance metrics.
Pharmacists have described these metrics as excessive and unsafe, leading to a high risk of medication errors. In response, pharmacy chains such as CVS have pushed back on employee complaints, stating that staffing is sufficient and errors are rare.
However, a recent investigation in Oklahoma has shed light on the working conditions within these pharmacies. In January, two board compliance officers visited a CVS in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to investigate a complaint of a mislabeled prescription.
During their visit, the officers witnessed a chaotic scene, with phones ringing constantly and a high volume of foot traffic and drive-thru customers. The head pharmacist explained that the pharmacy was operating with limited staff, having lost a significant number of support staff.
Following the visit, an audit revealed a concerning error rate of nearly 22 percent, with 66 errors out of 305 prescriptions. Some of these mistakes were minor, while others were more significant, including unclear or incorrect medication instructions.
