Straight Scoop: Unhappy with the Pharmacy

  • Published
  • By Straight Scoop action line
  • 71st Flying Training Wing
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Straight Scoop action line is your direct link to Col. Mark C. Nowland, 71st Flying Training Wing commander, for comments or suggestions to improve Vance Air Force Base. Although the Straight Scoop is available, you should always try to resolve problems at the lowest level possible, then follow the chain of command.

The Straight Scoop action line can be accessed by calling 213-7777, or e-mailing 71ftw.pa@vance.af.mil. People requesting a personal response should leave their name and phone number. Comments appear on the Vance Web site and in the Scoop newspaper without names. 

Issue: I am retired and I think our pharmacy at the clinic has gone down real bad. It never used to close except on a training day. Now they are closed at least two days a week. You used to could call in the night before and pick up your prescription the next day. Now you call your prescription in and it takes two days. I think our pharmacy has gone down real bad, especially in helping the retirees. I think something should be done about it. It is very, very bad. And I'd like to say, they are closed half a day. I realize you have a change of command, but then again, you've got people from out of town that come in. They call in a prescription that they said would be ready the next day. You come in on the second day and they are closed. The way gasoline is I think they should at least be open. You have a change of command but they should at least have somebody in there. This is very, very bad, and it sure gives a bad taste in the mouth to everybody -- enlisted, officers, active duty and retirees. Thank you.

Response: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to give us feedback on our pharmacy's operation. I'm happy to inform you that despite our clinic's extensive renovation and our manpower shortages, our pharmacy continues to offer full service pharmacy operations between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Until our renovation is completed in September, the pharmacy will close each day for lunch between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. We realize that with the price of gasoline in today's market, it is important to our patient population to make the most out of each trip they make to our clinic. For this reason, clinic closures are advertised on our clinic marquee, clinic answering system, pharmacy refill call-in system, the Scoop newspaper, and various bulletins and venues across the base. As training remains a high priority during this time of war, we encourage patients who travel long distances to call ahead and ensure care will be available. Thank you for your service to our nation and for choosing the Vance Clinic. If you have any questions, please call 213-7907 or 213-7494.