CVS — Local services in Burke

I don't blame the pharmacists for most of the issues necessarily, they're usually overworked yet still sweet - if you're patient with them that is - like you should be. I've seen entitled middle class people come in and treat these pharmacists horribly when they're being absolutely slammed and overworked, that's unacceptable - it's not their fault the system is bad and that they're working their *es off.

I'm usually very sympathetic with pharmacists at CVS as their system is fundamentally broken, I can't blame them for the issues but management should figure out how to improve their workload so theyre not slammed all the time.

That said, this CVS Pharmacy is honestly the worst I've been to and I've been to a dozen. They consistently don't auto-fill totally valid scripts, only at this CVS does the app say "Call pharmacy to fill" for scripts that would automatically fill at any other location.

Its like pulling teeth to get an RX here calling, holding, explaining and ending up coming in to explain in person. I've been told "Theres no scripts available to fill" and I have to painfully explain "My doctor sends in 3 scripts every appointment, there are 2 remaining unfilled scripts, I am due for a refill" and convince them I'm correct and they're not seeing it in the system.

Then after that, there's the fact that orders take weeks, but i don't know if that's unique to this location.

One thing I am, especially offended that somebody put a hold on my partners hormones that were a month overdue, saying too soon to fill. It's not a controlled substance, it's odd that antidepressants are easy to fill but hormones for a trans woman are notably harder to get.

Also, I've never once showed up with a script ready, it'll be in process for DAYS, or if I'm told to come back in an hour, I'll have to wait 45 more mins there.

Most difficulties arise from either hormones or controlled substances that are due but stigmatized and requires convincing to fill.

Or pharmacists saying something flat out wrong matter of fact-like, and having to convince them "No you do in fact have this script and it is eligible for fill, do you need the RX number from your app?"

Is it the pharmacists fault? Of course not, stop being entitled and put yourself in their shoes. But yes this location isn't ideal to say the least - I hope their working conditions...

This is without any doubt the worst CVS Pharmacy not just in Northern Virginia but in the entire country. I wish I could put negative stars. Their staff are rude and give misleading information to avoid processing obvious issues. The pharmacist is not helpful either, and she strives to not be helpful. Here is one example (among many): Once they claimed that they cannot refill my prescription prior to an extended travel because it is not yet due. The Doctor told them explicitly to approve it before a certain date and when I called the first time they said call us one day before your travel and we will process it. So I call them and it goes like this: Staff answers: No sir we cannot refill this your doctor has to approve. Me: The doctor approved and put a note for you and I called you when they did. Staff: Doctor has to approve Me: They did. Staff: Ok hold on. Transfers to Pharmacist Me: I have this prescription, the doctor approved an early refill due to travel, I need it tomorrow. You told me to call today. Pharmacist: Sir, to refill this prescription your insurance has to approve and not the doctor. Speak to your insurance, get approval and call us back we will process it. Me calls insurance Insurance customer service says this is already approved by us, let me out you on hold to call your pharmacy and tell them.

After 40 mins hold, Insurance person comes back: Sir, the pharmacy said they dont need insurance approval but they need the doctor’s approval and they informed you of that clearly.

I thank the insurance support, call my doctor, change the pharamcy to Walgreens, and pick up my prescription in 2 hours.

Abysmal pharmacy with terrible staff and pharmacist. They should all be...

I was overcharged for my medication due to them incorrectly using someone else's insurance. I paid $20 (should have been $10) and afterwards I questioned this as it was over charged and was told to speak to the pharmacist.

Salma, the pharmacist was incredibly rude, arrogant, and incompetent so it is hard for me to discern which of those winning personality traits was the worst. She acted like it was an inconvenience that I was asking for this to be corrected (the same exact mistake they made the previous month) and even stated at the end she has no more time for this and it is taking too long, but not before implying I was trying to finagle my way to get back the whopping 18 bucks i was owed over the previous month's mistake. The evidence was right in front of them that they made this mistake of charging $20 instead $10 and instead of considering this as the problem for what happened last month she decided to take the route of being arrogant. The store manager tried to intervene and she was very pleasant, but unfortunately the language barrier was creating more confusion.

As a healthcare professional i understand that pharmacists have stressful jobs because I too interact with many patients on a daily basis. Salma should not have any interaction with customers.

Update: After calling corporate they said the local district manager would call within 24-48 hours later. A few hours later this CVS location called right before closing saying I have a $20 gift card ready and they would leave it outside for me. This is a laughable and bizarre attempt to try to get me to go away with a gift card. Nice...