<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - CVS Health cutting 5,000 jobs, changing focus to healthcare services"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Less than a week after a walkout disrupted the nation’s largest retail pharmacy chain – and after a flurry of memos, meetings and a written apology from a company president – CVS pharmacists plan another walkout today over working conditions they say imperil patient safety. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">After <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/09/22/cvs-pharmacy-walkout-unsafe-working-conditions/70933188007/" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">shuttering as many as 22 stores in the Kansas City area last week</a>, organizers had planned a repeat this week and asked other pharmacists across the nation to join them. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">CVS executives scrambled to Kansas City over the weekend in an attempt to avert that scenario. They met with pharmacists and pharmacy staff at several metro area locations. Those talks culminated in a meeting with walkout organizers late Tuesday, both sides confirmed to USA TODAY. </p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Hours later, Prem Shah, CVS’ chief pharmacy officer and president of pharmacy and consumer wellness, <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/105l4cCgyNCJG0BDitxND9ZMbEN3CH2DLtew1DCMP-Ug/edit?usp=sharing" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">issued a memo</a> to Kansas City staff apologizing for failing to address their concerns sooner and promising a series of measures to alleviate their concerns.</p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:429px" fetchpriority="high" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2023/09/22/USAT/70934828007-ap-virus-outbreak-vaccines.jpg?width=660&height=429&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2023/09/22/USAT/70934828007-ap-virus-outbreak-vaccines.jpg?width=1320&height=858&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="A pharmacist administers a COVID-19 shot. Pharmacists say rising workplace pressures were compounded by their pandemic duties administering COVID tests and vaccines."/></figure><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“I want to apologize to our pharmacy teams that we haven’t addressed these concerns in the region more quickly,” Shah said, according to a copy of the memo obtained by USA TODAY. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“With the currently unprecedented demand for vaccinations from our patients in mind, we are taking a series of actions effective immediately,” Shah continued. Those steps included providing “additional resources” to stores, adjusting appointments, filling open positions and removing unnecessary tasks...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/09/27/cvs-pharmacists-plan-walk-out-again/70974522007/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
