A Welcome Response

The decision by the Rite Aid chain of stores to acknowledge problems with its pharmacies in Vermont and New Hampshire is a welcome response.

It even gives some evidence that popular complaints can make themselves heard at the high levels of giant corporations.

If what The Herald was told this week was correct, Rite Aid has taken to heart what it has heard from the public, state regulators, and—especially—from its own employees regarding the failure of the pharmacies to be adequately staffed. It has not opted for a Band-Aid approach of fixing just one or two problems, such as in Randolph, where the clamor was loudest. Instead it has created an entire new management district and has poured administrative resources into it to bring all the Vermont and New Hampshire stores up to snuff.

Parenthetically, it has also provided a line of communication to the press and public in the person of the vice president heading the new region. Previous attempts to contact the chain’s top management resulted in inquiries being routed to a public relations office which seemed to know nothing and care less about the situation in area stores.

In Randolph, Rite Aid was particularly fortunate to be able to secure the services of Bob Orleck, a local resident who was well known and well liked when he ran an independent pharmacy in the old railway station. Instead of an impersonal corporate mask, Orleck will furnish Rite Aid with a friendly face to show to the Randolph public. That’s a great improvement.