Page 7 - HowTo.2017

How To Guide
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 – Page 7
Pharmacies were once small neigh- borhood stores where everyone knew your name. They were places where you could expect to receive personalized service.
Back in those days, the selection of medications was smaller — but the customer service was usually superb.
Today, most neighborhood phar- macies are owned by big corpora- tions. These chain pharmacies carry prescriptions along with selections of toys, cosmetics and other items. Some pharmacies now even sell gro- ceries.
Sadly, these convenience-store phar- macies often lack the excellent cus- tomer service of the neighborhood pharmacies of yesteryear. Amid all the retail products, some places have for- gotten that the customer comes first.
But there are corporate pharmacies that still care about their customers. Likewise, some towns are still fortu- nate to have a small, independent pharmacy close by.
Whichever type of pharmacy you end up using, consider these factors to help you find the best option. AVAILABILITY
Even a great pharmacy isn’t very helpful if it’s not open when you need it. So a pharmacy’s hours of opera-
tion will be a major factor for most peo- ple. Limited business hours make an oth- erwise good phar- macy useless to you, when you are deal- ing with an illness.
Find a business that maintains conve- nient hours. Some cities even have all- night pharmacies that will fill your pre- scriptions in a hurry.
In most cases,
pharmacies that are
tied to a corporate
chain will stay open
late. Smaller, locally
owned pharmacies
may be open during limited hours, but they tend to provide personal- ized service.
Whichever pharmacy becomes your favorite, always know where you can find a 24-hour location in case of an emergency.
LOCATION
A pharmacy’s location is also import- ant. A convenient location will make filling prescriptions and purchasing medical products much easier.
If you can find a store near your home, work or school, it will save you plenty of time.
It is very useful to find a pharmacy that is minutes away, in case you need help quickly.
DRUG COVERAGE
Does the pharmacy accept your pre- scription drug plan? Not every phar- macy will accept every insurance pol- icy.
Call ahead to inquire about the types of insurance they accept. Paying out
of pocket will likely be a huge, unnec- essary burden.
If you have little to no coverage for your prescriptions, contact pharma- cies to ask about prescription dis- counts.
Most pharmacies have generic ver- sions of medications, some of which may be available to you. Between dis- counts and generic drugs, you could save lots of money.
Seniors on Medicare should pay close attention when choosing a pharmacy. Ask locations in your area if they ac- cept your Medicare Part D plan. There are many options available on these plans. It is important that the phar- macy you select is willing to work with your plan to cover the medica- tions you need.
SERVICE
Customer service is another factor when choosing a pharmacy.
Do the pharmacist and staff remem- ber your name? Are they happy to an- swer questions? Do you trust them? Finding a pharmacy staff that is infor- mative and friendly will make it easier for you to take your medication.
Take the time to look around for a pharmacy that meets your needs, and you’ll be thankful the next time you have a prescription filled.
How to Choose a Pharmacy
Voted Best Pharmacy and Best Pharmacist 3 Years in A Row!
Melvin’s
Discount Pharmacy
2017 Readers’
Ch ice Awards
8421
828 W. Hillsboro, El Dorado • 863-4155
N
I
W
N
E
R
s
e
m
i
T
-
s
w
e
N
o
d
a
r
o
D
l
E