Meijer opens full-service retail pharmacy on-site at Blodgett Hospital

Building upon a national trend to offer additional convenience to patients who need prescriptions filled before leaving the hospital, Meijer expanded its partnership with Corewell Health this week with the opening of a new full-service retail pharmacy on-site at Blodgett Hospital, in East Grand Rapids, Mich. This is the retailer's second pharmacy inside a Corewell Health hospital, following the opening of a similar pharmacy in nearby Butterworth Hospital in 2015.

"Our pharmacies are designed to be a one-stop health-and-wellness destination, and expanding our partnership with Corewell Health is another way we can ensure we are where patients need us most," said Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes, who was previously a pharmacist for the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. "This new pharmacy will increase convenience for patients and employees, as well as for neighbors who live and work in East Grand Rapids."

The 3,100-square-foot pharmacy offers over-the-counter products typically requested by hospital staff, patients and their families, as well as comprehensive services, including immunizations. In addition, the pharmacy features:

• Meds to Beds discharge coordination, which ensures that necessary medications are delivered to a patient's bed before they leave the hospital.
• Meijer Specialty Pharmacy services, which provide specialty medications as well as additional care for patients living with certain chronic conditions.
• Compounding, which ensures that prescriptions are specifically tailored to patients' needs.

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"This new pharmacy is an integral part of the hospital, and its convenience will enhance the experience for our patients, visitors and employees," said Dr. Alejandro Quiroga, president, Corewell Health in West Michigan. "Meijer continues to be an exceptional community partner, and we appreciate their retail and pharmacy expertise in this newly expanded partnership."

Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an team of 65,000-plus people — including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced-practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300-plus outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities. 

The new pharmacy, which is owned and operated by Meijer, was part of a major remodel project at Blodgett, which also included enhancements to the main entrance and patient drop-off area. It's located on the hospital's main floor, adjacent to the discharge lounge, making it easy for patients being discharged from the hospital to get the prescriptions they may need before heading home.

Prescriptions filled at the pharmacy are eligible for mPerks and can be set up for automatic refill reminders. They can also be refilled at any Meijer pharmacy within any of the retailer's 264 supercenters throughout the Midwest.

Hours for the Meijer pharmacy at Blodgett Hospital are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The pharmacy will be closed on Sundays and holidays.

Privately owned, family-operated Meijer operates 500-plus supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets and express locations throughout the Midwest.

This story originally appeared on Progressive Grocer.