How to Choose a Pharmacy

There are plenty of pharmacies. You can find a Walgreen or a CVS on almost every corner, plus most supermarkets and national retail stores offer a pharmacy. Therefore, choosing a pharmacy can become a challenge. However, there are ways to narrow down your choices and make an intelligent choice. With so many people taking prescription medication, it is necessary to find one that fulfills all your needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find the hours of the pharmacy. Some pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, but others close at 6--you want to choose a pharmacy that has the hours that you need.
2. Locate the nearest pharmacy to you. This is especially helpful if you work, so you can drop off your prescriptions before work and pick them up after work.
3. Check to see if they take your prescription plan.
4. Look into what the store has to offer besides prescriptions. If you use other medications that you buy over the counter, it is good to know if this store stocks them so you can buy all your medicines at one location.
5. Talk to the pharmacist to see if he is personable and able to answer your questions. It is important to know that the person who is filling your prescriptions is knowledgeable and can convey that knowledge to you.
6. See if the store has an online site where you can order your refills. Some pharmacies, such as Walgreen's, show a list of all the medications you have and their status--they will even call your doctor for you to get you a refill if your refills have expired.