Still in shock

In 2005, when I moved back to Texas, I was hired as part of the start up operations of a long term care pharmacy that serviced 37 nursing homes in Texas. For the first few weeks I literally used my own card table and chair to conduct business. At that time it was just a huge, empty facility and I watched as it built up around me. I helped pick out the furniture, cubicles, equipment, and as the Business Office Manager I also did all the background checks on each new employee as well as new hire orientation. I have been here every step of the way as people have come and gone; shared good times and sad. I know these folks. We are like family.

We filled our first prescriptions in January 2006 and I was there when we worked out all the bugs of the new software and refined our processes. I have written policies and procedures, conducted training, been the Compliance Officer as well as the Billing Manager. We have been very successful and profitable. So profitable I guess that a large corporation made our owners an offer they could not refuse. We have been bought and the pharmacy's doors will be closing.

We are all in shock since they only wanted our customer base and are absorbing our nursing home residents into their existing infrastructure. They need a few pharmacists and technicians locally to handle the growth. Their billing is handled out of another state so they do not need my staff. And, yours truly will be looking for a new job.

I have never been part of a corporate takeover and I think this is the absolute worst time to be seeking new employment with the economy in its current condition. Just a week ago I was counting my blessings that I had a steady job with a decent salary and benefits. Wahhhhh! You just never know.

They have hired a firm to assist us in our job search which I see as a plus and in my position I am going to be needed through the transition to close the books after the doors close. How sad to watch all my friends as they will be phased out in the coming weeks. This will certainly make the holiday season dismal but I am trying to look for the silver lining.

Blogger better not close me down. I need some consistency in my life at this point, right?