Publix Pharmacy Expands Hospital Presence

A Publix Pharmacy under construction at a hospital in Daytona Beach, Florida, will help Publix Super Markets continue its expansion into the hospital pharmacy realm.

Publix, which operates more than 1200 supermarkets, and Halifax Health broke ground on the construction of a full-service Publix Pharmacy at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

“As patients are discharged from the hospital, they are often prescribed medications to continue their care. Through our collaboration with Halifax Health, we’re able to bring the convenience of bedside delivery to the medical center’s patients and eliminate an extra stop on their way home,” said Publix Vice President of Pharmacy Dain Rusk, in a press release. 

“We also look forward to providing premier service to Halifax Health employees as we become their exclusive in-network pharmacy,” Rusk added.

Slated to open in August, the pharmacy will join 12 other Florida in-hospital pharmacies operated by Publix. In 2017, it began working with 5 Baycare Health Systems’ hospitals. Services offered at Baycare include providing patients with bedside prescription delivery upon hospital discharge and access to specialty medications.

And, earlier this year, Publix partnered with Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) in South Carolina to provide telehealth and prescription delivery services only–no in-hospital pharmacy, Maria Brous, a Publix spokesperson, told Drug Topics®.

Publix continues to look for collaboration opportunities throughout its 7-state operating area, the retailer said. Based in Lakeland, FL, Publix has stores in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Meanwhile, patients at Halifax Health Medical Center can have new prescriptions delivered upon discharge and also refill those prescriptions at their closest Publix Pharmacy, Publix said.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Publix Super Markets to provide our patients access to their medications in the most efficient and timely manner,” said Halifax Health President and CEO Jeff Feasel in press release. “Now, when patients leave the hospital or emergency department, they will easily be able to obtain their medication. We know convenience helps drive better health outcomes, and this pharmacy program provides that convenience.”

References:

1. Publix to Open Retail Pharmacy in Halifax Health Medical Center [news release]. Publix’s website. https://corporate.publix.com/about-publix/newsroom/news-releases/publix-pharmacy-in-halifax-health-medical-center.