At the End of the Line: How Walgreens' Supply Chain Fails Key West Patients…read more Living in Key West--and living aboard a sailboat--means accepting certain realities. Groceries cost more. Deliveries take longer. We are, quite literally, at the end of the road. What should not be part of that bargain is going without life-sustaining medication. Yet that has become my experience at Walgreens. As a patient who depends on daily medication, I routinely wait three to four days after placing a refill order before it is actually available for pickup at my local Walgreens. During that time, I have had to go without my medication entirely. When I asked why this happens so often, a pharmacist explained that Key West sits at the southernmost end of Walgreens' supply chain. Shipments arrive later, inventory is thinner, and delays are common. That explanation may describe the logistics--but it does not excuse the consequences. For patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, missed doses are not an inconvenience. They are a health risk. The problem is compounded by how Walgreens dispenses insulin. Long-acting insulin such as Lantus is typically prescribed as a 30-day supply, but because it is sold in fixed, sealed packages, many patients receive closer to 20 days' worth per fill, depending on their dose. Insurance copays are charged per prescription fill, not per month. The result is predictable: two pharmacy visits, two copays, and more opportunities for delay. In a place like Key West--where even Walgreens acknowledges that we are last in line for deliveries--that structure becomes dangerous. If your refill is delayed by several days and you were already given less than a month's supply, you don't just pay more. You run out. Walgreens will point out, correctly, that it does not manufacture insulin, that it cannot break sealed packaging, and that insurance rules govern copays. But those explanations miss the larger issue: Walgreens chose to operate a national pharmacy model that does not adequately account for geographically isolated communities like ours. If a company is going to dominate the pharmacy market--closing competitors, centralizing fulfillment, and cutting staffing--it also assumes responsibility for ensuring reliable access. In Key West, alternatives are limited. When Walgreens is delayed, patients don't simply go across the street. We wait. Or we go without. This is what profit-driven efficiency looks like at the edge of the map. Inventory kept lean to control costs. Refills routed through distant supply chains. Patients absorbing the risk when the system fails. Public health experts have long warned that gaps in medication access lead to higher emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and preventable complications. That risk is magnified in communities with fewer providers and fewer pharmacies. Key West may be a tourist destination, but for those of us who live here year-round, it can feel like a pharmacy desert with palm trees. Walgreens likes to describe itself as a healthcare partner. Partners do not tell patients to wait several days for essential medication. Partners do not design systems where people pay more and receive less--and then blame geography. If Walgreens intends to serve communities like Key West, it must do better. That means maintaining adequate local inventory, aligning insulin dispensing with real-world dosing, and treating access as a health obligation rather than a logistical afterthought. Because at the end of the supply chain, the cost of delay is paid not only in dollars, but in days without medicine--and in a higher risk of diabetes-related illness and death.

Photo service department is terrible! I received my confirmation email that my photos were ready…read morefor pickup, when I went to pickup my photos the lady kept repeating "no not ready." I kept trying to explain that I got the email and even showed her the email. After she saw the email she walked away from me and attended another customer who was there for a photo pickup as well, he also experienced the same problem!

Great pharmacy! While on vacation in Key West, I had a jet ski accident. I went to Urgent Care…read moreand they sent my prescription electronically to this CVS location. My insurance card was back in Orlando, but the pharmacy tech (Zach, I think) took the time to contact my insurance carrier for me. He was friendly, nice, quick, and efficient! I appreciated the personalized service he provided me! I highly recommend this pharmacy!

We were on a cruise ship and got extended for another two weeks…read more Unfortunately two of my prescriptions ran out and I contacted CVS staff. They contacted my insurance company and my physician to get my two prescriptions refilled a real lifesaver!

5 Stars because I had a question about medicine I was taking and even thought I don't have an…read moreaccount there the pharmacist answered my question. That's a big help when your 2200 miles from home. Thanks again

This Pharmacy is on the ball and top notch! I want to thank Brett the Pharmacist..and staff... for…read morealways making my experience a great one! A place I can know and trust! They were quick to update my new insurance and help me to meet my deductible!

Just now (5pm) the so called manager on duty was rude to my fiancee who doesn't speak English very…read morewell.. in the sleep aid section, she moved a tray out of the way so she could see what see needed and he was rude to her and when I stepped in to correct him he started getting rude with me.. I told him to "shut up" a couple of times before my fiancee had to step in-between us.. he was antagonizing me to "do something".. he also said "what are you gonna do".. I live here 6mths out of the year.. I graduated H.S. here... I grew up here in the 80s-90s... This is suppose to be a tourist destination?? And this is how you treat tourist not to mention locals?? My fiancee wants to talk with the owner or upper management tomorrow (what we were told, will be in the morning).. before she heads back to Colombia... very disappointed in this cvs management.. I guess I'll get my meds somewhere else.. online for the win!!

I picked up two prescriptions today at CVS Roosevelt Blvd Key West Fl. 33040 at approximately 1 pm…read more Fluticasone Propionate 50 mg, and Amoxicillin CLAV 50 mg every 12 hours. Staff was efficient, friendly and explained side effects. Store was clean well stocked. After I paid and collected my prescriptions I asked guise the rest room. When I entered the stock room the door was too heavy for me and pushed me back. When I opened the restroom door due to its weight again door pushed me back again. doors were the least of problem. Bathroom was filthy and needs to be cleaned. Please have someone check this bathroom It does not reflect the standards of CVS. Suzanne Cohill 443-839-2066. Iam posting this to improve bathroom facilities for staff and customers.

The CVS sits up high on the corner of duval st and front st and one of the only quick small item…read moremarts open late in old town key west. They had large bottles of prosecco for $17.99 but we were looking for a different wine that they did not have in stock. It was busy in here with mostly digital checkout registers.

Open 24 hours! Great…read morespot to grab a soft drink, tea, or other beverage on the cheap while on Duval Street. They also have some wine here for sale but no beer or liquor. Lots of snacks to choose from if you're hankering for something salty or sweet. The store is quite spacious, organized, and clean all around. If you're here on vacation know that they have just about anything you need should you have left it at home for the big trip. They have all kinds of beachwear, hats, sunglasses, beach chairs, toys, strollers, snorkel sets, flippers, sandals, body boards, and so much more. Staff was friendly and welcoming, and shopping here was a jiffy, no long lines, great service all around. I would definitely stop back if I need something while in the area.

Dennis pharmacy is wonderful the people that work there are great super personalities and…read moreabsolutely the best food locals love it there even though it has moved it doesn't matter we're still going to support and enjoy the great atmosphere I can't say enough about the food and the people. My family loves Dennis pharmacy and the cook is wonderful I don't know he or she personally you think by now I would but they are so busy putting out the good food that they probably don't have time to chat LOL thank you Dennis pharmacy for being my hero

If you need a CVS while visiting in Key West, there are quite a few around... the store at Front…read moreand Duval is the largest one we saw. Not just your normal drugstore, the location is stuffed with souvenirs at better prices than the tourist places! We needed some toiletries and joint pain relief tape strips.... Found all we needed. In the end, it's just a CVS, if you need it, it's there! Nothing to get too excited about... LOL

Unbelievably convenient. It is a very clean store that has all things you may need. The staff is…read morevery nice and hard working. Thank you for being there!!

Millie's is actually a quite a fantastic little convenience store. You'll find it by all the Union…read moreJacks and a big ugly queen figure smiling outside. The place has its share of British imports, such as abundance of chocolate bars not typically available in States. It's beer selection is also quite good, and has an excellent variety. I wish we stopped by here before stocking up on Coronas from CVS next door.

It's in an old movie house. Not that this matters. It was…read morethe only place in KW that I encountered a panhandler. He was out front laying on the street casually asking for a handout. Not that this matters, but I'm not used to this activity around here. Clerks were always nice. Beer was cold. I prefer this Walgreens over the outrageously priced Rite Aids.

Walgreens can be hit or miss, and this visit fell into the miss category. They didn't carry a…read moreproduct you would typically expect in a full-size store. We ended up going to CVS instead, where we found exactly what we needed.