Technology and training give Sam’s Club pharmacy manager Sujal Patel more time to do what he loves: care for people.
A lot has changed in Sujal Patel’s 22 years as a Sam’s Club pharmacist. When he joined the team at Club 6667 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, dispensing medication was the primary role of pharmacists. Patients brought in handwritten prescriptions, and filling those ‘scripts was a hands-on, manual process.
Fast forward two decades, and Sujal says expanded clinical services and improvements in technology help him care for patients and members better than ever before — just as people have begun to rely on pharmacies in new and evolving ways.
“The pharmacy is often the default destination for healthcare,” Sujal explains, “especially in parts of the country where access to healthcare is limited.”
Change for the better
In addition to filling prescriptions, Sam’s Club pharmacists are now trained and licensed to offer clinical services like immunizations and medication therapy management (MTM).
“MTM allows us to work more closely with doctors, which helps us achieve better outcomes for patients,” Sujal shares. “We follow up with patients’ medication programs, help detect adverse drug reactions and help ensure people are taking their medications correctly. It’s really changed the game when it comes to the quality of care we can offer people.”
The other game changer? Technology.
Electronic prescription fills, inventory alerts and SMS messaging for patients let Sujal spend more time with those he serves. Technology also helps him manage compliance and other administrative responsibilities. Plus, digital patient records put patient information right at his team’s fingertips — while also making it easier for stores and clubs to communicate.
To help our pharmacy associates stay at the forefront of the industry, Sam’s Club provides free access to tools like the Pharmacist’s Letter, an online continuing education platform.
“Resources like these let us stay current on certifications, the latest treatments, and drug protocols. They provide instant access to crucial information, allowing us to learn and respond more effectively, which can truly change lives. We have witnessed this firsthand in our improved response to the opioid crisis."
People first
In the midst of so much change, Sujal says the most important thing remains steady: human connections.
“Our relationships with patients, members and fellow associates — they have always been like family,” Sujal shares. “I have grown with them. I have watched their kids become young adults who pay a visit to me before going to college or getting their first job.”
And sometimes relationships with other associates form into career-shaping mentorships. Sujal recalls when he was hired by Pharmacy Market Manager Charlie Szczechowski, one of his first mentors.
Charlie inspired him to pay it forward, and Sujal has mentored many associates over the years. He’s helped them navigate their paths in pharmacy. He’s guided several associates through the certification process to administer immunizations. Some have even gone on to pursue medical school, while others have started careers in technology. Sujal also serves as a preceptor for University of Michigan pharmacy students, who regularly shadow him.
A career in caring
Whether it’s a pharmacy tech’s career journey or a patient’s journey to wellness, caring for people is what Sujal loves most about his career.
“I developed a passion for chemistry in the 10th grade,” Sujal says. “But I could never imagine myself in a lab. I knew I wanted to help people.”
“Help is always available for those who ask,” he continues. “It may sound cheesy, but it’s true. Sam’s Club puts the resources at our fingertips to make that happen.”
You could call it, he says, “their ‘prescription’ for success.”
