Rachel Karn
King Ferry,US
Summary
Over the course of my career, I have worked in a variety of settings. I have learned so much, and continue to do so.
I enjoy the challenges of working in retail pharmacy. I like being able to help people understand their health conditions and medications, to offer suggestions for improved health, comfort, and ease in performing daily functions.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Staff Pharmacist
Kinney Drugs / KPH Healthcare Services
Auburn, NY
12.2022 - Current
- Work at a variety of locations, over a 6 county area
- Counsel patients about medications, answer questions about health conditions, and make OTC recommendations where appropriate.
- Oversee medication dispensing processes ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
- Managed a daily workflow with walk in and scheduled appointments for immunizations during peak cold/flu season and the resulting increase in prescription volume, at different locations daily.
- Check prescriptions for appropriate dosage, drug interactions, allergies and contra-indications before dispensing medications.
- Support clinical services such as immunizations administration, leading to increased accessibility for patients in need.
- Vaccinate patients to provide immunity against influenza, pneumonia, and other diseases.
- Dispensed and verified patient prescription orders, conducting necessary utilization reviews.
- Advised patients on medication side effects and contraindications and explained proper administration.
- Provided consultations and answered inquiries from patients, healthcare professionals and physicians regarding drugs, potential side effects, and specified use.
- Hand counted controlled medications, measured liquids and reconstituted antibiotics.
Staff Pharmacist
Department Of Defense Army
Fort Hood, TX
05.2016 - 11.2022
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to optimize patient medication therapy plans, calculating doses for pediatric as well as geriatric population, contacting providers on best practices, available formulary alternatives, and drug interactions,
- Worked in the main outpatient pharmacy, the refill pharmacy, overnight ER pharmacy, several satellite clinic pharmacies, and telepharmacy.
- I was selected to be the pharmacist on the team when the on base call center was initiated, setting the standard. I was often directed by supervisors to resolve patient interaction issues because of my retail customer service skills.
Staff Pharmacist
Walgreens 10863
Auburn, NY, United States
03.2008 - 07.2015
- As a staff pharmacist in a community retail pharmacy, I interpreted, did data entry, counted, and verified prescriptions, written, oral, and escribed. I checked for allergies and drug interactions, and did basic compounding of prescriptions. I built relationships with medical offices, and more importantly, the individuals and their families receiving services at this location. I provided prescription and Over-the-Counter product counseling and monitored for medication compliance and potential drug over use. I was very active in inventory management, including that of controlled substances, as well as billing a plethora of insurance plans, and working with other medical professionals on prior authorizations. I supervised coworkers. I rang sales on registers, and assisted store management in a variety of situations. I am vaccination certified and have done flu clinics involving geriatric and mentally disabled populations successfully. I am MTM certified, Outcomes and Mirixia trained, with a 100% payment rate. I have received corporate recognition for customer service on a dozen occasions, as well as having been employee of the month twice in the last six months.
Staff Pharmacist
TOPS Pharmacy
Auburn, NY, United States
10.2006 - 03.2008
- My job responsibilities were that of a retail pharmacist: interpreting, filling, compounding, verifying prescriptions; supervising coworkers on my shifts; monitoring drug interactions and counseling patients about prescription and over-the-counter products; accurately billing numerous and varied insurance plans; ringing sales and handling cash; participating in the management of inventory, including controlled substances.
Staff pharmacist/Supervising Pharmacist
Fay's/Eckerds
Auburn, NY, United States
12.1987 - 10.2006
- I started as an intern with Fays in 1987. In the following years, I received my license and worked at many locations in a six county area. I worked out of a home store, but floated to many other locations to help out as needed, often overtime. During these years, I saw the role of pharmacist begin to change and take on ever increasing duties and expand in scope. I initially worked at a high volume store that also provided unit dosed medications for homes in the area, and learned basic unit dosing packaging and procedures. I worked at another store where the supervising pharmacist was a Fays Accubuster, a goto reference for computer related issues for the company. There, I learned to troubleshoot many issues and assist other pharmacists in walking through various problems and fixes, as the supervisor was not always on duty when the calls came in. I gained much experience, working with many different people in many different locations with different customer bases, insurance plans, and prescribers. I have been a supervising pharmacist, managing employees, making schedules, managing inventories, have been responsible for ordering and maintaining a to the dose controlled substance inventory, and being on call for homes and a prison that occasionally required after hours deliveries. I worked at locations that were registered to dispense Clozaril and monitored the necessary blood work prior to dispensing the medication. I have done many tasks in my career as a pharmacist, from bank teller at an independent that I worked for, to mopping and vacuuming, administering vaccinations, providing emergency care, stocking shelves, pricing merchandise, but my favorite part of the job is helping people, whether it is listening to some one who needs advice or a sympathetic ear to bad health news, helping select an OTC product or insisting on a visit to the ER, or successfully resolving an insurance issue. This company has changed ownership many times. Many of the stores I worked at are currently owned by Rite Aid, and the management I worked with is no longer there.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Pharmacy
Albany College of Pharmacy Union University
Albany, NY, United States05-1989
Skills
- Drug utilization review (MTM National Certification 9/2015)
- Pharmacy automation systems
- MTM training in Mirixa and Outcomes (2011)
- Immunization administration (APhA since 2010)
- CPR/BLS continuously certified (Red Cross since 2010)
- Contraceptive Care Specialty Pharmacist Certificate (Pharmcon/freeCE 2025 12 credits)
- Prescribing Controlled Substances Safely: A DEA Requirement (8/2025)
Affiliations
Hazard Library - Volunteer-Desk Librarian, former Board of Trustee Member, Secretary of Board, President of Board
Certification
- I am licensed and registered in New York Stare, continuously since 1989.
- I am vaccination certified, continuously since 2010.
- I am CPR certified, continuously since 2010.
- I am MTM certified as of 9/24/2015 through the Power-Pak Medication Therapy National Certificate Training Program.
- I was a member of Rho Chi, Honor Society of Pharmacy.
Timeline
Staff Pharmacist
Kinney Drugs / KPH Healthcare Services
12.2022 - Current
Staff Pharmacist
Department Of Defense Army
05.2016 - 11.2022
Staff Pharmacist
Walgreens 10863
03.2008 - 07.2015
Staff Pharmacist
TOPS Pharmacy
10.2006 - 03.2008
Staff pharmacist/Supervising Pharmacist
Fay's/Eckerds
12.1987 - 10.2006
Bachelor's Degree - Pharmacy
Albany College of Pharmacy Union University
Availability
- Job Type: Permanent, Term, Multiple Appointment Types, Telework
- Work Schedule: Full-Time, Multiple Schedules