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      Missing that dose could have changed everything

      Robert Clinton, Wilmington, NC

      Curtis Powell sitting in a chair
      Portrait of Curtis Powell

      Timing is everything with in vitro fertilization (IVF). When Dr. Robert Clinton and his wife realized they were short a critical dose needed within hours, he scrambled to find the medication.​


      The couple had already lost their first pregnancy and put so much into trying again. Missing the dose could derail the entire cycle.​


      Their local CVS Pharmacy called other locations and found the medication at CVS Specialty Pharmacy in Raleigh. Robert was working at his practice in Fayetteville, already about two hours from home in Wilmington.​


      While a driver navigated, Robert worked from the back of the van as they headed north to Raleigh, followed by a more than two-hour drive back to Wilmington—a triangular journey across the state. He refrigerated the medication in the van and gave his wife the injection when he arrived, allowing the IVF cycle to stay on schedule.​


      “Getting that medicine in my hand felt better than winning really anything,” Robert said. The IVF cycle continued as planned, and today their son is 10 years old.​


      To Robert, the response reflected the same commitment to care he values as a physician. “CVS Pharmacy and CVS Specialty really cared,” he said. “They went the extra mile and put the patient first.”​


      That experience strengthened Robert’s longstanding relationship with the CVS Pharmacy two blocks from his practice. He suggests it to patients because the pharmacists know his staff, communicate with them and support continuity of care.​


      Open after hours, the nearby store carries prescriptions, blood pressure cuffs and other health essentials. Pharmacists may also flag a missed refill or suggest a lower-cost alternative, helping patients overcome obstacles to getting what they need.​


      Years after CVS Health helped his family keep their IVF cycle on track, Robert sees that same commitment extending to his patients.​


      “With CVS Health, I know my patients have support beyond my office,” Robert said. “I know they’re in good hands when they leave my clinic.”​

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