So, my last post suggested I'm going solo.
And I've done that, so I've been preoccupied.
But now, I've clearly made the big time with a shout out in the October 2010 issue of Drugstore Canada magazine.
I guess my little blog was getting more attention than I thought (which is why I stopped blogging for a while).
When I have more time, I will put up another post.
Showing posts with label pharmacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pharmacy. Show all posts
Friday, October 15, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
I'm going solo.
That's right.
There's been a lot of talk (and crying) in Ontario about how the retail pharmacy industry is in trouble thanks to the new drug reform It's true, the drug reform will hurt the retail pharmacy industry. But let's be serious, does a company like Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall really need more money? I mean these guys have more money than some small countries!
So, while all the pharmacy owners out there have been crying foul about how their bottom lines will be hit hard with the implementation of these changes, I've been quietly taking notes and figuring out how I can take advantage of this new shape of the industry.
And, I'm confident that opening up an independent pharmacy in the immediate future is the right move to make from a professional and business perspective.
There is still lots of dollars in the industry to be had. I know I won't be making billions like SDM, but even if I can take a small percentage of what one of their stores makes, then I will be doing just fine. My overhead and expenses will be lower because it will be just me, and I know for certain that I can out-customer-service a Shoppers or Pharma Plus Rexall with my eyes closed and hands tied behind my back any day of the week.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't going to be easy, I know. But the bottom line is that all these changes were inevitable...and this isn't the last major change to the industry in my lifetime. But it was now or never.
So here I go, wish me luck.
There's been a lot of talk (and crying) in Ontario about how the retail pharmacy industry is in trouble thanks to the new drug reform It's true, the drug reform will hurt the retail pharmacy industry. But let's be serious, does a company like Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall really need more money? I mean these guys have more money than some small countries!
So, while all the pharmacy owners out there have been crying foul about how their bottom lines will be hit hard with the implementation of these changes, I've been quietly taking notes and figuring out how I can take advantage of this new shape of the industry.
And, I'm confident that opening up an independent pharmacy in the immediate future is the right move to make from a professional and business perspective.
There is still lots of dollars in the industry to be had. I know I won't be making billions like SDM, but even if I can take a small percentage of what one of their stores makes, then I will be doing just fine. My overhead and expenses will be lower because it will be just me, and I know for certain that I can out-customer-service a Shoppers or Pharma Plus Rexall with my eyes closed and hands tied behind my back any day of the week.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't going to be easy, I know. But the bottom line is that all these changes were inevitable...and this isn't the last major change to the industry in my lifetime. But it was now or never.
So here I go, wish me luck.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Small pharmacy is really screwed, but that doesn't mean I can't be only a little screwed.
So, it's been a while since I last posted.
What's happened since then? Well, I've had some excitement in my personal life, but this is not the forum for that.
And in my professional life, well, all has gone to hell, as they say. The Ontario Government has decided they aren't happy with how well the retail pharmacy industry is doing these days, so they've decided to slit our wrists, give us a bandaid, and let us all bleed out slowly. And by "us" I mean pharmacists in Ontario. Go to www.stopcuts.ca or http://ontario.communitypharmacies.ca for more info. Educate yourself, but in the meantime, here's my take.
The government has announced they will be eliminating all forms of professional allowances to pharmacies from generic drug companies (which is about 750 million bucks/year), while slashing the allowed cost of generic drugs to 25% of the brand name price. They did, however, agree to increase the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) reimbursed dispensing fee from $7 to $8 - which is very nice since they've only increased it by $0.56 over the past 21 years. Hrmmmmm....maybe its cus they knew the funding model for drugs in Ontario was screwed up and they were okay with letting pharmacies and generic drug companies work out their own deals. So now the government wants a piece of the action...or probably is thinking, "if we can't have a piece of the action, no one can". They did agree (but haven't given specifics yet) to fund pharmacists for the provision of certain professional services. Who knows what that will be and how much it will pay or even when it will take effect.
Bottom line is this: they are removing about $750 million from the industry and only giving back $250 million....where the heck is the difference coming from? The answer is the public. The innocent bystander who hears from their elected government that they will be saving money on drugs. But if pharmacies are going to lose money on every prescription they fill, either someone will pay, or pharmacies will start cutting back and going out of business.
It's happening already. People are getting laid off. Hours are harder to come by. Previously free services are being charged for (eg, $5 per delivery of a prescription). And the smaller pharmacies who aren't 17,000 square feet with 5000 square feet of high end cosmetics (and aren't receiving kickbacks to stock those cosmetics, by the way), will get hit the hardest. The independent pharmacy. Not the large/public corporations like Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall Pharma Plus (Katz Group).
Thanks Premier Dalton McGuinty and Health Minister Deb Matthews....you have officially solidified your role in Canada's history as the government that destroyed the pharmacy as we know it, and as we have known it for the past 20 years or even longer. Wait you two. One day soon you or someone you love will likely need a pharmacist... And by then these changes will have had time to have their full effect on the industry. And when you need the assistance of your pharmacist and don't get it or have to pay out of pocket or have to wait a very long time, I hope you curse yourself. I can only imagine what you would do if someone came along and said "you are not allowed to make the salary you have been getting for the past 20 years anymore, so now will earn 50% less for yet to be determined increase in workload." Ya, good luck with that.
I'm not really all that upset with making changes. Seriously, I agree we need lower drug prices. I'm just upset with how they went about doing it. The government created these "professional allowances" in 2006...it was their idea!! And now they are making pharmacists look bad for using that. And they are being vague and unwilling to negotiate or discuss possible resolutions with any of the pharmacy associations/groups. They are making drastic changes to and industry they know little about. And just because they pay for the largest insurance plan in the company and want to reduce their debt, they figured that by paying less for drugs, their debt will decrease. So why not legislate lower prices? Genius they thought. Meanwhile they will screw millions of people in the coming years.
Until then, I'm not going to let you burst my bubble. I am still going to open my own pharmacy. I will modify my business model to account for your stupidity and arrogance and future inevitable stupidity. I will do whatever I can to prove myself and the services I provide to my patients are worth their time, loyalty, and business. I will let them know that the government doesn't really care about anyone but themselves. I will succeed whether you try and stop me or not.
That was my rant on the current situation in the retail/community pharmacy industry in Ontario.
Until next time,
The Canadian Pharmacist.
What's happened since then? Well, I've had some excitement in my personal life, but this is not the forum for that.
And in my professional life, well, all has gone to hell, as they say. The Ontario Government has decided they aren't happy with how well the retail pharmacy industry is doing these days, so they've decided to slit our wrists, give us a bandaid, and let us all bleed out slowly. And by "us" I mean pharmacists in Ontario. Go to www.stopcuts.ca or http://ontario.communitypharmacies.ca for more info. Educate yourself, but in the meantime, here's my take.
The government has announced they will be eliminating all forms of professional allowances to pharmacies from generic drug companies (which is about 750 million bucks/year), while slashing the allowed cost of generic drugs to 25% of the brand name price. They did, however, agree to increase the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) reimbursed dispensing fee from $7 to $8 - which is very nice since they've only increased it by $0.56 over the past 21 years. Hrmmmmm....maybe its cus they knew the funding model for drugs in Ontario was screwed up and they were okay with letting pharmacies and generic drug companies work out their own deals. So now the government wants a piece of the action...or probably is thinking, "if we can't have a piece of the action, no one can". They did agree (but haven't given specifics yet) to fund pharmacists for the provision of certain professional services. Who knows what that will be and how much it will pay or even when it will take effect.
Bottom line is this: they are removing about $750 million from the industry and only giving back $250 million....where the heck is the difference coming from? The answer is the public. The innocent bystander who hears from their elected government that they will be saving money on drugs. But if pharmacies are going to lose money on every prescription they fill, either someone will pay, or pharmacies will start cutting back and going out of business.
It's happening already. People are getting laid off. Hours are harder to come by. Previously free services are being charged for (eg, $5 per delivery of a prescription). And the smaller pharmacies who aren't 17,000 square feet with 5000 square feet of high end cosmetics (and aren't receiving kickbacks to stock those cosmetics, by the way), will get hit the hardest. The independent pharmacy. Not the large/public corporations like Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall Pharma Plus (Katz Group).
Thanks Premier Dalton McGuinty and Health Minister Deb Matthews....you have officially solidified your role in Canada's history as the government that destroyed the pharmacy as we know it, and as we have known it for the past 20 years or even longer. Wait you two. One day soon you or someone you love will likely need a pharmacist... And by then these changes will have had time to have their full effect on the industry. And when you need the assistance of your pharmacist and don't get it or have to pay out of pocket or have to wait a very long time, I hope you curse yourself. I can only imagine what you would do if someone came along and said "you are not allowed to make the salary you have been getting for the past 20 years anymore, so now will earn 50% less for yet to be determined increase in workload." Ya, good luck with that.
I'm not really all that upset with making changes. Seriously, I agree we need lower drug prices. I'm just upset with how they went about doing it. The government created these "professional allowances" in 2006...it was their idea!! And now they are making pharmacists look bad for using that. And they are being vague and unwilling to negotiate or discuss possible resolutions with any of the pharmacy associations/groups. They are making drastic changes to and industry they know little about. And just because they pay for the largest insurance plan in the company and want to reduce their debt, they figured that by paying less for drugs, their debt will decrease. So why not legislate lower prices? Genius they thought. Meanwhile they will screw millions of people in the coming years.
Until then, I'm not going to let you burst my bubble. I am still going to open my own pharmacy. I will modify my business model to account for your stupidity and arrogance and future inevitable stupidity. I will do whatever I can to prove myself and the services I provide to my patients are worth their time, loyalty, and business. I will let them know that the government doesn't really care about anyone but themselves. I will succeed whether you try and stop me or not.
That was my rant on the current situation in the retail/community pharmacy industry in Ontario.
Until next time,
The Canadian Pharmacist.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Call To Action
In Ontario over the past several weeks, the major players in the retail pharmacy industry have banded together to deal with the current state of affairs. The big three involved are: The Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS), the Independent Pharmacists of Ontario (IPO), and the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA). They have even collaborated and formed a website (http://ontario.communitypharmacies.ca/) to convey their messages and spread the word via facebook groups.
Why? Money, obviously.
And don't get me wrong, I'm all for improving the future financial situation of my profession. It's just funny how these things play out. In reality, the independent pharmacists despise the chain pharmacies, and the chain pharmacies want to wipe out independent pharmacies. Both bad mouth the other to their patients (I've seen and witnessed this on several occasions; and doing relief for both the chains and independents, I can say that confidently).
So why all this hooplah? The government is toying with the idea of getting rid of all rebates, or setting a very pathetic cap on the whole thing. This would cripple pharmacy as we know it. I won't get into the details, but trust me. You think we stay alive making $7.00 on a prescription? Umm, no. It's the rebates we get behind the scenes...it's always been the rebates. It's no secret. Think about it...has the dispensing fee for ODB (ODB is the government funded drug plan) gone up in the past decade? No. Has inflation...hell yes. Does there seem to be a problem here? Yes.
So picture this. The government never raised the dispensing fee for the past 20 or something years because they knew pharmacies were getting money elsewhere (the rebates from the drug companies). Yes, the government knew all along!! And now, they're saying no more rebates, and we're not going to increase the dispensing fee to make up the difference in revenue. What will happen? Well, patients will suffer and so will pharmacies who focus on prescriptions (and not cosmetics).
So the Ontario Community Pharmacies have banded together to create awareness and try and get the government to change what they are proposing. What are they proposing exactly? Well the people who are meeting with the government won't tell us. Seriously. Even at one of the "Call to Action" meetings which are still taking place at various places across the province, there is some confusion. We are being urged to get our patients to "help us" and have them sign postcards and fax forms to send to the government to "save pharmacy". But even as all of the major players band together and urge the pharmacists of Ontario to do these things, each of the different groups has their own agenda. The meeting told pharmacists to collect signatures and send them off. But then the head office of the chain pharmacies say something different like "ignore what you heard, and do what we tell you instead".
Huh?
How is anything ever going to get accomplished if the people getting together to speak on behalf of all pharmacists, will sit down at meetings, look each other in the eyes, make a plan, and then do something different?
Call to action? Ya, good luck with that.
The fate of the future of pharmacy in Ontario is in the hands of a bunch of boneheads.
Why? Money, obviously.
And don't get me wrong, I'm all for improving the future financial situation of my profession. It's just funny how these things play out. In reality, the independent pharmacists despise the chain pharmacies, and the chain pharmacies want to wipe out independent pharmacies. Both bad mouth the other to their patients (I've seen and witnessed this on several occasions; and doing relief for both the chains and independents, I can say that confidently).
So why all this hooplah? The government is toying with the idea of getting rid of all rebates, or setting a very pathetic cap on the whole thing. This would cripple pharmacy as we know it. I won't get into the details, but trust me. You think we stay alive making $7.00 on a prescription? Umm, no. It's the rebates we get behind the scenes...it's always been the rebates. It's no secret. Think about it...has the dispensing fee for ODB (ODB is the government funded drug plan) gone up in the past decade? No. Has inflation...hell yes. Does there seem to be a problem here? Yes.
So picture this. The government never raised the dispensing fee for the past 20 or something years because they knew pharmacies were getting money elsewhere (the rebates from the drug companies). Yes, the government knew all along!! And now, they're saying no more rebates, and we're not going to increase the dispensing fee to make up the difference in revenue. What will happen? Well, patients will suffer and so will pharmacies who focus on prescriptions (and not cosmetics).
So the Ontario Community Pharmacies have banded together to create awareness and try and get the government to change what they are proposing. What are they proposing exactly? Well the people who are meeting with the government won't tell us. Seriously. Even at one of the "Call to Action" meetings which are still taking place at various places across the province, there is some confusion. We are being urged to get our patients to "help us" and have them sign postcards and fax forms to send to the government to "save pharmacy". But even as all of the major players band together and urge the pharmacists of Ontario to do these things, each of the different groups has their own agenda. The meeting told pharmacists to collect signatures and send them off. But then the head office of the chain pharmacies say something different like "ignore what you heard, and do what we tell you instead".
Huh?
How is anything ever going to get accomplished if the people getting together to speak on behalf of all pharmacists, will sit down at meetings, look each other in the eyes, make a plan, and then do something different?
Call to action? Ya, good luck with that.
The fate of the future of pharmacy in Ontario is in the hands of a bunch of boneheads.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Long break...
Well happy 2010 world.
I took some vacation time. And since you were staring, tapping your fingers, and pacing back and forth, I decided to take a little longer than necessary. ;)
So, what have I been up to? Well, I'm still thinking about, thinking about, opening my own pharmacy. Being a pharmacist and never taking a business course ever in my life, not even in high school way back, learning how to go about starting a business has been...fun! So it may take me longer to understand concepts or terms that come second nature to many business-types. But I've read a couple books on business plans, which inevitably lead me to the internet to search out definitions and further explanations of terms and concepts. Did you know that pro forma means "completely made up"? Why can't they just call it a "made up financial statement" instead of a pro forma? That would be way easier for the average person to understand.
One of the main problems I foresee in this potential venture is the future of pharmacy in Ontario. The government in the past couple years has decided to make the drug rebate side of the business "transparent". So by doing this, they also thought it wouldn't look so good if the transparency showed that pharmacies are getting 60% rebates...so now pharmacies can only get 20% on drugs purchased for publicly funded people (seniors and welfare). In some cases, the reimbursement for some drugs was less, yes less, than the actual acquisition cost. WTF? This left the field wide open for the brand name drugs...so that's how pharmacies have been making it up over the past couple years. Now, they're discussing capping the brand name rebates to 20% or something also! What does this mean? It means the future of pharmacy as we know it in Ontario is in jeopardy. It means only the big box stores who buy in large enough volume to make a 20% rebate worth it, and who have a large enough front shop to supplement their sales with high-end cosmetics, will survive. It's almost like the government is angry with pharmacists for making a living over the last 40 years.
The problem I see, is that dispensing fees have been the "transparent" side of how pharmacists make money. The average consumer hates the dispensing fee and thinks a $9.99 fee or (gasp) $10.99 is absurd! The reason these fees haven't gone up over the past couple decades? You got it, cus pharmacies were making money in rebates and didn't bother passing on the inflation in the cost of dispensing to the customer in the form of a fee. What happens next? Well, if you raise your fee, you upset your customers and eventually lose business. If you don't, you'll eventually go broke anyway.
So, the state of pharmacy affairs in Ontario is uncertain and grim. Do I start a pharmacy or not?
Do I risk everything I have to start something I've been dreaming about for years with a 50:50 chance of making it. And even if I "make it" will it be "worth it". I mean, I love being a pharmacist, but let's be serious, this venture would be a business decision. Is it worth it?
Who knows. 2010 just got underway. I've got a feeling this year will be a tough one, but a memorable one.
So happy 2010 world.
I took some vacation time. And since you were staring, tapping your fingers, and pacing back and forth, I decided to take a little longer than necessary. ;)
So, what have I been up to? Well, I'm still thinking about, thinking about, opening my own pharmacy. Being a pharmacist and never taking a business course ever in my life, not even in high school way back, learning how to go about starting a business has been...fun! So it may take me longer to understand concepts or terms that come second nature to many business-types. But I've read a couple books on business plans, which inevitably lead me to the internet to search out definitions and further explanations of terms and concepts. Did you know that pro forma means "completely made up"? Why can't they just call it a "made up financial statement" instead of a pro forma? That would be way easier for the average person to understand.
One of the main problems I foresee in this potential venture is the future of pharmacy in Ontario. The government in the past couple years has decided to make the drug rebate side of the business "transparent". So by doing this, they also thought it wouldn't look so good if the transparency showed that pharmacies are getting 60% rebates...so now pharmacies can only get 20% on drugs purchased for publicly funded people (seniors and welfare). In some cases, the reimbursement for some drugs was less, yes less, than the actual acquisition cost. WTF? This left the field wide open for the brand name drugs...so that's how pharmacies have been making it up over the past couple years. Now, they're discussing capping the brand name rebates to 20% or something also! What does this mean? It means the future of pharmacy as we know it in Ontario is in jeopardy. It means only the big box stores who buy in large enough volume to make a 20% rebate worth it, and who have a large enough front shop to supplement their sales with high-end cosmetics, will survive. It's almost like the government is angry with pharmacists for making a living over the last 40 years.
The problem I see, is that dispensing fees have been the "transparent" side of how pharmacists make money. The average consumer hates the dispensing fee and thinks a $9.99 fee or (gasp) $10.99 is absurd! The reason these fees haven't gone up over the past couple decades? You got it, cus pharmacies were making money in rebates and didn't bother passing on the inflation in the cost of dispensing to the customer in the form of a fee. What happens next? Well, if you raise your fee, you upset your customers and eventually lose business. If you don't, you'll eventually go broke anyway.
So, the state of pharmacy affairs in Ontario is uncertain and grim. Do I start a pharmacy or not?
Do I risk everything I have to start something I've been dreaming about for years with a 50:50 chance of making it. And even if I "make it" will it be "worth it". I mean, I love being a pharmacist, but let's be serious, this venture would be a business decision. Is it worth it?
Who knows. 2010 just got underway. I've got a feeling this year will be a tough one, but a memorable one.
So happy 2010 world.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Shoppers Drug Mart Politics
Usually, when a company asks an employee to take over a position that has been held by the same person for many many years, that new employee should adapt to their new environment and staff, right? Well, not if you're talking about Shoppers Drug Mart.
Last night I worked relief in a Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) that has a new "Associate Owner" (slash "sucker"). The staff filled me in on all the gossip. The old Associate left the store to take on a cushy head office job. And the new guy comes into the new store for not even 2 weeks and has already started digging his own grave.
You think that as the new guy and new boss of a pretty large and decent staff, you'd want to keep them on your good side. But not this genius. He comes in and as one of his first acts of business, he decides to end the store's methadone program!! WTF?!?! Those meth patients are trying to get clean, and you walk in and mess everything up!! Of course, I'm working the first full day after they started telling their patients that they're going to have to find a new methadone store. Thanks asshole, now I'm working until midnight with a bunch of pissed off recovering drug addicts and the staff and I are getting an ear full.
So, why would this idiot choose to take over a store where there's methadone if he's to big of a pussy to deal with it? My guess: he's an idiot. But, an even better question: Why would SDM let a new associate take over a new store and start changing things around so drastically? My guess: they're idiots. But he's all they've got, and they're all he's got. Why? Say it with me: They're all idiots!
The whole situation gets worse because the staff are the ones telling the patients that they are closing the program and so the staff are getting yelled at. And who do the staff blame? The new guy. The idiot. And head office. The idiots.
This isn't an isolated incident. Every time I go to a SDM, there's some sort of political nonsense pissing all the store level staff off. Listen up Shoppers: don't piss off your store-level staff. They are your bread and butter...not the stupid idiots at head office in their cushy desk jobs with fancy offices and furniture (I've seen the fancy head office by the way).
So, what did I do? Naturally, I stirred shit up. I told the nice ladies, the technicians, to be empowered. I told them to say something to the new guy. And if that doesn't work, then speak to their regional manager. Worst case, get the pissed of patients to complain to head office and if necessary, complain to the college.
Call me a shit disturber. Seriously, call me that. Because that's what I am.
All Shoppers stores have issues. And the issues are typically all the same.
Too bad this hugely successful company are not smart enough to recognize it and do something about it. It's only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down.
Last night I worked relief in a Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) that has a new "Associate Owner" (slash "sucker"). The staff filled me in on all the gossip. The old Associate left the store to take on a cushy head office job. And the new guy comes into the new store for not even 2 weeks and has already started digging his own grave.
You think that as the new guy and new boss of a pretty large and decent staff, you'd want to keep them on your good side. But not this genius. He comes in and as one of his first acts of business, he decides to end the store's methadone program!! WTF?!?! Those meth patients are trying to get clean, and you walk in and mess everything up!! Of course, I'm working the first full day after they started telling their patients that they're going to have to find a new methadone store. Thanks asshole, now I'm working until midnight with a bunch of pissed off recovering drug addicts and the staff and I are getting an ear full.
So, why would this idiot choose to take over a store where there's methadone if he's to big of a pussy to deal with it? My guess: he's an idiot. But, an even better question: Why would SDM let a new associate take over a new store and start changing things around so drastically? My guess: they're idiots. But he's all they've got, and they're all he's got. Why? Say it with me: They're all idiots!
The whole situation gets worse because the staff are the ones telling the patients that they are closing the program and so the staff are getting yelled at. And who do the staff blame? The new guy. The idiot. And head office. The idiots.
This isn't an isolated incident. Every time I go to a SDM, there's some sort of political nonsense pissing all the store level staff off. Listen up Shoppers: don't piss off your store-level staff. They are your bread and butter...not the stupid idiots at head office in their cushy desk jobs with fancy offices and furniture (I've seen the fancy head office by the way).
So, what did I do? Naturally, I stirred shit up. I told the nice ladies, the technicians, to be empowered. I told them to say something to the new guy. And if that doesn't work, then speak to their regional manager. Worst case, get the pissed of patients to complain to head office and if necessary, complain to the college.
Call me a shit disturber. Seriously, call me that. Because that's what I am.
All Shoppers stores have issues. And the issues are typically all the same.
Too bad this hugely successful company are not smart enough to recognize it and do something about it. It's only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Opening a new pharmacy
So, all this work makes me wonder if it's time.
Is it time to consider opening my own pharmacy?
What's the deal with new pharmacies nowadays anyways? How does one compete for business with the likes of Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall (and the slowly being phased out, Pharma Plus)? Is it stupid to think I can compete for the pharmacy business? And without a medical clinic in my back pocket, is it stupid to think I will survive?
Now what types of things am I thinking about? Well, location, location, location. Where the heck would I open? The area I live is pretty saturated with chains, independents, banners, and other types of pharmacies. So how far do I want to open a business from my home? What's reasonable?
And what would my pharmacy look like and what would I sell? What are people looking for in an independent store? What do you think? How much money and inventory do I need? And how much time and planning should I allow for?
What about past relationships? Do I worry that people I used to work for/with will get upset if I open within a certain distance of them? I'm not one to burn bridges, but seriously, space is finite.
And how does a pharmacist market themselves once open? I mean, you can't leave the store during business hours, so how do you go visit doctors when they're more likely to be able to meet with you? Or do I dig my financial hole deeper and hire someone to cover me when I call on docs? Its a catch-22.
So, anyone out there have any tips or advice for me? Any good resources?
Anyone done it already and want to get in on this action? Or know anyone who wants to do it?
Is this the start of a new thought process? Or is this just a timely blog that will fall by the waist side in an hour?
I predict this is the start of something massive.
Is it time to consider opening my own pharmacy?
What's the deal with new pharmacies nowadays anyways? How does one compete for business with the likes of Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall (and the slowly being phased out, Pharma Plus)? Is it stupid to think I can compete for the pharmacy business? And without a medical clinic in my back pocket, is it stupid to think I will survive?
Now what types of things am I thinking about? Well, location, location, location. Where the heck would I open? The area I live is pretty saturated with chains, independents, banners, and other types of pharmacies. So how far do I want to open a business from my home? What's reasonable?
And what would my pharmacy look like and what would I sell? What are people looking for in an independent store? What do you think? How much money and inventory do I need? And how much time and planning should I allow for?
What about past relationships? Do I worry that people I used to work for/with will get upset if I open within a certain distance of them? I'm not one to burn bridges, but seriously, space is finite.
And how does a pharmacist market themselves once open? I mean, you can't leave the store during business hours, so how do you go visit doctors when they're more likely to be able to meet with you? Or do I dig my financial hole deeper and hire someone to cover me when I call on docs? Its a catch-22.
So, anyone out there have any tips or advice for me? Any good resources?
Anyone done it already and want to get in on this action? Or know anyone who wants to do it?
Is this the start of a new thought process? Or is this just a timely blog that will fall by the waist side in an hour?
I predict this is the start of something massive.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Welcoming Counsel.
For starters: this is my first blog, so thanks for reading.
I'm not really sure how these things are supposed to work, so I plan on just writing about all things Pharmacy and Pharmacist...and maybe even things that aren't really.
For those who haven't thought much about the profession of pharmacy, it's probably time you did. We all know you've been into a pharmacy at some point or another - even if you sell out and go to Wal-Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart, or large grocery stores for your pharmacy-related stuff, you still have been to a pharmacy. (Don't even get me started on the negative effect Shoppers Drug Mart has on the profession of pharmacy - that will come soon). And even if you just grabbed cough syrup, eye drops, or picked up your grandmother's prescriptions, you probably have noticed the common theme in these pharmacies - the pharmacy counter. And if you have been unlike the typical consumer, you may have even looked past the busy dispensary counter and seen a head or two bobbing around frantically from phone to counter and back to the phone. Somewhere back there, amidst all that seemingly organized chaos, there is a pharmacist.
We are primary healthcare professionals. We have all been to University for a 4 year pharmacy degree - and in most cases, we also earned another bachelor degree prior to entering pharmacy school. Myself, I have 2 university degrees over 7 years.
Why start a blog now? Well, why not? People blog about anything and everything. I have lots to say and the people close to me just can't handle listening to it anymore. So this is more of a vice in letting me discuss my thoughts, frustrations, and whatever with whoever chooses to listen.
Things may get nasty. I may even divulge some of the industries best kept secrets. Like what really happens if a pill falls on the floor? Or, is the pharmacist judging you for having gonorrhea? The answer to that second question, is probably yes, by the way.
Stay tuned...I will try and be regular...like Mr. Oldman thanks to the stool softener I gave him last week.
Have a nice day.
I'm not really sure how these things are supposed to work, so I plan on just writing about all things Pharmacy and Pharmacist...and maybe even things that aren't really.
For those who haven't thought much about the profession of pharmacy, it's probably time you did. We all know you've been into a pharmacy at some point or another - even if you sell out and go to Wal-Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart, or large grocery stores for your pharmacy-related stuff, you still have been to a pharmacy. (Don't even get me started on the negative effect Shoppers Drug Mart has on the profession of pharmacy - that will come soon). And even if you just grabbed cough syrup, eye drops, or picked up your grandmother's prescriptions, you probably have noticed the common theme in these pharmacies - the pharmacy counter. And if you have been unlike the typical consumer, you may have even looked past the busy dispensary counter and seen a head or two bobbing around frantically from phone to counter and back to the phone. Somewhere back there, amidst all that seemingly organized chaos, there is a pharmacist.
We are primary healthcare professionals. We have all been to University for a 4 year pharmacy degree - and in most cases, we also earned another bachelor degree prior to entering pharmacy school. Myself, I have 2 university degrees over 7 years.
Why start a blog now? Well, why not? People blog about anything and everything. I have lots to say and the people close to me just can't handle listening to it anymore. So this is more of a vice in letting me discuss my thoughts, frustrations, and whatever with whoever chooses to listen.
Things may get nasty. I may even divulge some of the industries best kept secrets. Like what really happens if a pill falls on the floor? Or, is the pharmacist judging you for having gonorrhea? The answer to that second question, is probably yes, by the way.
Stay tuned...I will try and be regular...like Mr. Oldman thanks to the stool softener I gave him last week.
Have a nice day.
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