Rite Aid Recognizes 6 as Pharmacy Champions

Rite Aid has selected 6 members of its pharmacy team from across the country for recognition through the company’s annual Pharmacy Champions program.

Those recognized were selected by a panel of judges from more than 15,000 customer-submitted entries in October 2018, during American Pharmacists Month. Customers nationwide were asked to acknowledge and thank Rite Aid pharmacy team members that provided exceptional, personal, health-related service.

"At Rite Aid, our pharmacists and pharmacy teams put the patient at the center of everything they do, to deliver unmatched value-based care," said Jocelyn Konrad, Rite Aid executive vice president of pharmacy and retail operations, in a prepared statement. "This program is just 1 reminder of the impact our teams have on the lives and health outcomes of our customers."

The following Rite Aid employees are winners of the Pharmacy Champions contest:

• Pharmacist Katherine Chin, nominated by Jeffrey Krug for her service at a Rite Aid in San Mateo, California. A pharmacist for 42 years, Chin was nominated for jumping to action when a patient collapsed while at the pharmacy counter. Krug's winning entry commended Chin for being calm and professional during a crisis.
• Pharmacy technician Samantha Radonski, a Rite Aid associate for 2 years, was nominated by Christine Myers for her service at a company store in Ashland, Oregon. Radonski helped a customer navigate insurance processes to ensure the customer received necessary antirejection medication. Myers' winning entry highlighted that the pharmacy saved a life and Radonski was critical in making that happen.
• Bruce Roberts, a pharmacy manager at a Rite Aid in Newark, Delaware, was nominated by Jessica Dellose for helping a family whose infant just had lifesaving surgery. Dellose's winning entry highlighted that Roberts was extremely thorough and took the time necessary to ensure the family understood all of the medications and how to administer them.
• Pharmacy technician Susan Grim, a pharmacy technician for 15 years, was nominated by Carissa Snelling for her service at a Rite Aid pharmacy in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, where she is known for implementing a positive approach with patients, and reminding them to live for today. Snelling's winning entry mentioned that Grim is like a "dose of homemade chicken noodle soup" for her own pride and health.
• Martin Ossolinski, nominated by Catherine Ruocco for his work at company store in Ridgewood, New York, has been a pharmacy manager for 17 years. He was nominated for being focused on patients and ensuring he is paying attention to patients who are using in-store resources, such as blood pressure testing equipment. Ruocco's entry highlighted Ossolinski's intervention when he saw a patient's exceptionally fast heartbeat. He advised the patient to immediately see his physician who told the patient that Ossolinski's intervention probably prevented a serious health crisis.
• Pharmacy technician Patricia Yost, a pharmacy technician for 33 years, was nominated by Daniel Dodd for her work at a Rite Aid on Welsh Road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Specifically, Yost's dedication to helping elderly patients understand and stay adherent to their medications was recognized. Dodd's winning entry stated that the world needs more caring people like Patricia Yost.

According to Konrad, Rite Aid received an “overwhelming” number of entries for this year’s contest that highlighted pharmacy team members delivering best-in-class care to patients.

“[It is] something that is invaluable to our patients and Rite Aid,” she said. “We are extremely proud of our pharmacy team and thank all of our customers who took the time to nominate them.”

Each of the recognized team members will receive $2,500 in Rite Aid gift cards and the ability to designate a KidCents charity that will receive a $2,500 donation from The Rite Aid Foundation.

In addition, the 6 customers who nominated those selected team members will each receive $2,500 in Rite Aid gift cards.

Rite Aid will also recognize its "Pharmacy Champions" through a full-page ad in Pharmacy Times.

Reference

Rite Aid Recognizes Six Pharmacy Team Members for Outstanding Service Through Its Annual Pharmacy Champions Program [news release]. Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; May 7, 2019: Rite Aid. [email] Accessed May 7, 2019.