CVS Caremark hosts grand opening of new mail service pharmacy, customer center
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark held a grand opening event on Tuesday at its new mail service pharmacy and customer center in Mt. Prospect, Ill.
The 150,000-sq.-ft. facility, representing an investment of approximately $67 million, supports pharmacy inventory and fulfillment needs across the CVS Caremark PBM book of business, which serves approximately 60 million members throughout the United States. With the capability to fill 50 million prescriptions annually, this new facility is an example of CVS Caremark's continued investment and commitment to the State of Illinois, the company stated.
(Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark, gives Governor Quinn of Illinois a tour of the new mail service pharmacy in Mt. Prospect)
CVS Caremark hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of its new Mt. Prospect facility. Company officials also took the opportunity to recognize and thank supporters from the state and region who helped make the development of the Mt. Prospect mail service pharmacy possible. Fifty-nine Illinois-based businesses were used during the construction of the facility.
The new facility will employ more than 400 people by the end of 2013, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, automation technicians and process-improvement engineers. Technology at the facility enables 90% of prescriptions to be dispensed and 80% of prescriptions to be packaged for mailing, using full automation. In addition, in order to further assure safe and accurate dispensing, all prescriptions are visually checked by one of the on-site pharmacists before they are mailed.
"This new CVS Caremark mail service pharmacy and customer center is a great example of our commitment as a pharmacy innovation company to helping people on their path to better health," stated Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark. "The combination of technologically advanced automation and the expertise of our highly qualified pharmacy teams help us ensure people have convenient access to affordable medications."
"We are pleased that CVS Caremark chose to build this new state-of-the-art facility in Mt. Prospect, Illinois," said Governor Pat Quinn. "I am happy to have the opportunity to participate in this ribbon-cutting event today, and appreciate the role that CVS Caremark plays both as a national healthcare innovator and as an employer in our community."
The facility also includes a CVS Caremark customer center complete with an executive briefing room designed to introduce clients and future partners to CVS Caremark's integrated programs and services. Video and touchscreen technology illustrate the CVS Caremark story and allow direct interaction with CVS retail pharmacists, specialty pharmacists and mail service pharmacists, as well as with Minute Clinic nurse practitioners, via real-time telepresence technology.
In combination with the mail service pharmacy capabilities, the customer center offers opportunities to work with clients and partners to identify and develop solutions that leverage the full CVS Caremark enterprise for improving access, cost and quality for patients and payers.