Duane Reade — Local services in New York

This one goes out to the pharmacist I had the misfortune of interacting with this evening….Big thumbs down. Pharmacy does not answer the phone. Pharmacy staff is inexperienced. Made a med error with my child’s antibiotics. Did not dispense enough to cover the doses. Was never discussed with me. I attempted to call to get remainder of doses dispensed and they told me they couldn’t because it’s only dispensed in 75ml bottles (in spite of the fact that dosage/frequency/#doses are all that were specified in the rx) and made me wait while they called my pediatrician to have a whole new prescription written. Staff refused to relent that they were incorrect for dispensing improper amount in the first place. This was a huge inconvenience for me having to present to the pharmacy in person as they actually silence their phone and do not answer it. And when I came to the pharmacy I had to wait. In between work and returning home to my kids. The staff should at the very least acknowledge their mistake as they attempt to correct it. I should also not be charged for a full second course as they’re dispensing a full second bottle but they were “unable to dispense it as two bottles” in the first place. They also underdiluted the medication which is very dangerous for small kids as dosages are then higher than intended-speaking as a healthcare provider. This is a medication error and can result in patients not finishing their course of antibiotics out of the sheer difficulty of obtaining a new one due to 145th Duane Reade’s poor customer service. It’s also dangerous. It was also suggested to me that dispensing a second bottle or a new bottle would be illegal. Which is patently ridiculous since they dispensed the incorrect amount in the first place but are perfectly willing to have my MD write an entirely new prescription. In a 200ml bottle no less. Which is obviously what they should have used the first time. They then filled it on a verbal order. Then my insurance wouldn’t pay since it was too close to the previous script and she attempted to charge $140 and offered zero assistance in having the script covered. I had to call my insurance and deal with it myself. Got it covered as I’m leaving town-which it turns out she could have done in the first place. I could have been spending time with my sick kid under the extenuating circumstances. Thanks for absolutely nothing. And as for the stressors of being a public facing healthcare worker- I understand completely. But I consistently go above and beyond for my patients because I’m a human being and understand how hard it is to make it through this life without compassion and people going the extra mile. May she encounter people just like her in her journey...

I got sick for the first time in years and had to get an emergency prescription. I went to pick it up and was missing an item. I thankfully was able to contact my doctor after hours who had missed calling it in. This prescription was called in about a half hour to closing, and I was informed that if they could get through to my insurance then they would do their best to fill it, but I would be the last one to be able to fill my Rx that hadn't already been filled. Dominique & Destiny were helpful in taking care of me with this.

I felt badly for them, as a woman walked in about 15 minutes to closing and was furious that they would not be able to fill her prescription, despite there not being proper processing time for a last minute non-refill situation- she was yelling at them that they were unprofessional, and these ladies calmly answered her questions, let her know where she could make complaints or reviews, if need be... and they were the opposite of the energy that woman brought in. Thank you for your calm and kind presence Dominique & Destiny!

I gave this pharmacy a 4 out of 5 since there have been times I've gone in and there's been a lack of communication with where things have been stored/issues finding a prescription, and having to wait a little longer; but all in all this location is on top of it, kind, they recognize you and are particularly friendly to regular customers in the neighborhood....

Today, I sent my two teenage daughters into the store to make a purchase. As they proceeded to the aisle with the item they needed, they were met with inappropriate and unprofessional behavior from an employee—described as an older woman with blonde cornrows pulled into a ponytail. According to my daughters, this employee looked at them and said, “Here come these two troublemakers,” rolled her eyes, and kissed her teeth.

To make matters worse, when they proceeded to check out—at the same register with this woman—she failed to bag their items and remained cold and dismissive.

This type of judgmental and stereotypical behavior is unacceptable. The employee in question does not know my daughters, who happen to be straight-A students and are respectful, kind, and thoughtful young women. Is this how all young people are viewed and treated at...