Q & A: Hasendra Shah, Dell’s Pharmacy

 

by: Joshua Marks

 

 

How did you get started?

 

I was working in a pharmacy for one of the H.M.O. companies as a pharmacist.  They expanded and went under bankruptcy.  I realized the best way to serve the patient is to be an owner, where you can decide how much emphasis you want to place on customer relations.

 

 

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this?

 

I probably would be working as a pharmacist with some big organization.

 

 

What’s your advice to those who want to start a business?

 

The independent pharmaceutical business is difficult right now.  You have to find your own niche.  You have to be prepared to provide lots of free services and consultation.

 

 

What’s the best thing about owning your own business?

 

Each and every customer that patronizes my pharmacy I have a relationship with.  Everyone gets individual attention

 

 

What’s the worst?

 

Dealing with H.M.O.’s who create an uneven playing field and force their customers to mail order their prescriptions.  The other thing is the pharmaceutical manufacturers who price their own drugs in countries like Canada and Mexico at much lower rates and that forces the customers to go there to get their prescriptions.

 

 

What’s the biggest business mistake you ever made?

 

Having failed to understand the advantage that big corporations and companies have over mom and pop stores; just providing good service was not enough.

 

 

What’s your favorite thing about this business?

 

Almost everyday I get blessings and compliments from many of the older customers who I gave my time or my attention, which they never get from their physicians or other pharmacists.

 

 

Describe your business in one statement:

 

A neighborhood pharmacy is still the best way to get your prescription.

 

 

What one word would you use to describe yourself?

 

Sincere.

 

 

Do you have a role model (mentor)?

 

I had a pharmacy director that I used to work with, who unfortunately passed away, who always emphasized personal contact with the patient

 

 

What did you think you would do when you graduated from high school?

 

I wanted to be a doctor.

 

 

What is success to you?

 

Seeing your patient get healthy and stay healthy.

 

 

If you had won the lottery tomorrow, what would you do?

 

I would expand my pharmacy service, hire a pharmacist so I could spend more time with my patients.

 

 

What kind of schooling do you need to become a pharmacist?

 

You need to do four years of undergraduate school and four years of pharmacy school and you have to take a license exam by the state board of pharmacists.

 

 

What kind of advice can pharmacists give since they aren’t doctors?

 

These days doctors don’t have enough time for their patients to advice them about their condition and medication so pharmacists are the crucial link to get the desired outcome from treatment

 

 

What advice can’t they give?

 

Pharmacists are the best trained professionals and more knowledgeable about the drugs and their effects

 

 

What are your thoughts on the costs of prescription meds in the United States?

 

It’s too high.

 

 

 Many  customers get prescriptions filled through Canada, what do you think of this?

 

It’s an unfortunate reality.  The pharmaceutical manufacturers are to blame for such situations.

 

 

What are your thoughts on generic drugs, what are the differences in quality and price?

 

Generic drugs are almost as good as brand names and they are inexpensive.  We always use them whenever possible

 

 

What are the best selling prescription drugs on the market?

 

Pain killers like codeine, cardiovascular drugs, anti-psychotics and antidepressants.

 

 

How long does it typically take to produce a pharmaceutical from someone who submits a prescription and why does it take so long?

 

When somebody brings in a prescription you have to enter the patient’s information and then the prescription information needs to be entered and is checked against their previous medication and is submitted to their insurance company online.

 

 

 

What are the differences in how different pharmacies operate, for example a pharmacy inside a hospital vs. a supermarket pharmacy?

 

Most pharmacies in the hospitals are designed to dispense drugs for the patients who are in the hospital.   The big chain or independent stores are community pharmacies that dispense the medications for patients who are home based.  Most pharmacies are categorized as community pharmacies.