Publix and BayCare Health System Announce Exclusive Four – County Collaboration
LAKELAND, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Publix Pharmacy and BayCare Health System are pleased to announce an
exclusive collaboration to improve the delivery of health care to the
residents of Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties in Florida.
The collaboration initially includes BayCare branded telehealth sites in
various Publix locations, BayCare screening stations in all Publix
locations and Publix Pharmacies on-site at five BayCare hospital
locations.
“This is a very exciting collaboration for both Publix and BayCare,”
said Publix Vice President of Pharmacy Operations Fred Ottolino.
“Through this agreement, we will not only be able to provide BayCare
medical expertise to Publix customers seeking non-urgent medical care,
but we will also be able to bring Publix’s premier service to BayCare’s
patients.”
“BayCare is extremely pleased to enter into this agreement with Publix
because we share the core value of excellence,” said Glenn Waters,
Executive Vice President/COO, BayCare Health System. “This collaboration
between medical care and pharmacy also furthers the long-time BayCare
commitment to connect the many different aspects of health care in an
efficient manner that improves both patient health and the care
experience. We are very focused on helping individuals access the right
level of care in the right place and this collaboration does just that.”
The agreement makes BayCare Publix’s exclusive health care and
telehealth collaborator within the four-county geographic region. The
telehealth sites will have a private room with teleconferencing and
medical diagnostic equipment, including stethoscopes, blood pressure
cuffs, high-definition cameras and other tools necessary for common
diagnoses. The telehealth sites allow patients to speak directly via
video conferencing technology with a board-certified physician through
BayCare’s physician network. The physician can direct the patient to use
the available diagnostic tools in order to make a diagnosis and write
any necessary prescriptions. Publix Pharmacy support staff will be
available to assist patients, if needed. Fees to use the telehealth site
are expected to be competitive with a normal doctor’s office copay, and
appointments will not be needed. The locations and opening dates of the
telehealth sites are to be determined.
Another component of the collaboration will enable BayCare patients to
test their blood pressure and perform other screenings on the in-store
health and wellness kiosks — known as higi stations — and send their
screening results directly to their BayCare physician at no extra fee.
In addition to these new services within its stores, Publix will
purchase, renovate and operate four existing on-site BayCare hospital
retail pharmacies at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa; Mease Countryside
Hospital, Safety Harbor; Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater; and St.
Anthony’s Hospital, St. Petersburg. A fifth Publix Pharmacy will be
built in Winter Haven Hospital. Publix also will provide free, bedside
prescription delivery services to patients at all BayCare hospital
locations.
Publix and BayCare have committed to finalize the details of the
collaboration by the end of the year but anticipate that all of the
components could be completed within the next four months.
About BayCare Health System
BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects
individuals and families to a wide range of services at 14 hospitals and
hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and
central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute
care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care
and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve
through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for
high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit www.baycare.org.
About Publix
Publix is privately owned and operated by its 200,000 employees, with
2016 sales of $34 billion. Currently Publix has 1,144 stores in Florida,
Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. The
company has been named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to
Work For” for 20 consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to
superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the
grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s website, corporate.publix.com.
Contacts
Publix
Nicole Krauss, 305-652-2411 ext. 71378
or
BayCare
Amy
Lovett, 727-519-1257
727-580-2381 (cell)
