By March 25, 2021
As a floater pharmacist, Taylor Fortson spends time at multiple locations to ensure that her customers and colleagues are well-taken care of and that things run smoothly. Besides her day-to-day pharmacy work, she embraces behind-the-scenes work that goes into building the company’s brand as she continually looks for innovative ways to introduce Carolina Pharmacy to as many people in the community as possible.
Taylor, who has her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, takes great professional pride in working for an independent pharmacy that intricately knows its customers, their families, and medications. Knowing how important service, privacy, and courtesy are in her field, Taylor and the rest of her team maintain excellent relationships with patients and providers to provide the best healthcare possible. Whether engaging with new customers, fielding questions on Carolina Pharmacy’s social media accounts, or filling prescriptions, Taylor feels intrinsically drawn to customer service. She enjoys helping her customers understand what her independent pharmacy offers that is different from chain pharmacies.
I wake up early enough to enjoy my coffee and walk the dogs before leaving for work. But I used to be the type of person that rolled out of bed 15 minutes before I had to leave. I found that too stressful when going to work and being gone all day. I would rather wake up 2 hours before having to leave and have a small lull to read Axios Charlotte or unload the dishwasher than being rushed!
If I’m working in the pharmacy (typically Wednesday-Friday/Saturday), it takes 30 minutes to an hour to get to work. People always say how exhausting that must be, but I really appreciate the time to listen to music or podcasts before starting the day.
I move between different pharmacies, so I always get set-up before jumping into the workflow. When the pharmacy gets busy, there are all sorts of things lying on the counter, with the phone ringing and customers coming in, so organization is key!
When I’m doing office work on Mondays/Tuesdays, I work from home, probably the safest option during COVID-19. But in the pharmacy, I feel protected. We wear masks at Carolina Pharmacy. They also provide us with other PPE if we would like to be extra protected (KN95 masks, face shields, gloves). Everyone usually wipes down their station when they arrive each morning and before leaving. My hands are so dry from using hand sanitizer constantly!
I’m usually caught up on filling prescriptions by 1 or 2 p.m., so this is when I heat my lunch and start my “miscellaneous” tasks. I start by checking emails and seeing if anything new is needed immediately. I’m typically bouncing between helping patients who come into the pharmacy and working on my laptop.
On a typical day, two pharmacy technicians work with me. I’m newer to the company, so I really rely on them for certain things with our computer system since it’s difficult to train someone until the “issue arises” such as a prescription prior authorization or certain codes you need to know to add insurance or get a medication to go through insurance. They have all been so helpful and do an amazing job keeping the pharmacy going when I have to work on outside tasks. I admire their relationships with their patients and lean on them when learning new patient’s names
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I always wanted to go into the healthcare field but, full confession…the sight of blood makes my stomach turn! After one of my family members suggested pharmacy, I loved that we are one of the most accessible healthcare providers. It’s easy for a patient to talk to us outside of an appointment whether they come in or call the pharmacy.
My husband is an amazing cook and is usually cooking dinner when I get home, so I love to sit with him while he cooks, and I enjoy a glass of wine. My 2021 resolution was skincare, so I’ve been doing many face masks after work which is very relaxing. On my days off, I enjoy lake days on the boat, walking my two dogs, working on home improvement projects, and going to the gym.
My husband is an amazing cook and is usually cooking dinner when I get home, so I love to sit with him while he cooks, and I enjoy a glass of wine. My 2021 resolution was skincare, so I’ve been doing many face masks after work which is very relaxing. On my days off, I enjoy lake days on the boat, walking my two dogs, working on home improvement projects, and going to the gym.
My company! I see many of my friends struggle with working for chain pharmacies, and I can’t help but think how lucky I am to work for an independent pharmacy. It’s an enjoyable work environment that allows me to connect with patients each day. I’m not just there to fill their prescriptions but to help them be the healthiest version of themselves. As I said earlier, we’re one of the most accessible healthcare providers, but we also have great relationships with doctors in the area, which helps give our patients the best care.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Taylor Fortson, your weight loss wonder woman! I will be helping you on your weight loss journey. I have your contact information and will reach out via email/phone within 48 hours. 🙂
In the meantime, you should be receiving a confirmation email from us (please check your junk and spam folders). If you would like to contact me directly, please email compounding@carolinapharmacy.com”
