Publix pharmacy signs exclusive contract with BayCare Health

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix pharmacy and BayCare Health System signed an exclusive contract whereby BayCare branded telehealth sites will appear in various Publix locations, BayCare screening stations will be in all Publix locations, and Publix pharmacies onsite will be at five BayCare hospital locations.

 “This is a very exciting collaboration for both Publix and BayCare,” Publix VP pharmacy operations Fred Ottolino said. “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.”

The agreement makes BayCare Publix’s exclusive health care and telehealth collaborator within the Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties in Florida. The collaboration will also enable BayCare patients to test their blood pressure and perform other screenings at higi in-store health and wellness kiosks and send their screening results directly to their BayCare physician at no extra fee.     

“BayCare is extremely pleased to enter into this agreement with Publix because we share the core value of excellence,” said Glenn Waters, EVP and 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.”

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.

BayCare is a 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.