LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets Inc. plans to provide a full-service retail pharmacy at a cancer treatment facility in Tampa, Fla.
The Southeastern food and drug chain said Wednesday that it will begin operating the pharmacy at the Moffitt Cancer Center on July 2.
According to Publix, the current Moffitt retail pharmacy offers specialized convenience to patients treated at Moffitt on an outpatient basis, Moffitt employees and their dependents, and other cancer center visitors.
Publix said its pharmacy at Moffitt will provide patients with an expanded menu services, including pickup of prescriptions at their local Publix store, the ability to refill prescriptions at multiple convenient locations, mail order capability, electronic routing of prescriptions to a designated Publix pharmacy location, and expanded hours via their local Publix pharmacy and the Publix pharmacy at Moffitt.
"The opportunity to bring our level of customer care to patients of Moffitt Cancer Center not only allows us to meet their immediate needs but also to build long-term relationships with our customers as they return home," Fred Ottolino, vice president of pharmacy operations at Publix, said in a statement.
Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which recognizes the facility’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s top cancer centers.
"With the exceptional customer service reputation of an organization like Publix and the fact that both of our companies are Florida-based, this collaboration seemed like a natural fit," stated Braulio Vicente, senior vice president of Moffitt Hospital & Physician Group Operations. "We know Publix will continue to provide the high level of service our patients and employees have come to know and expect from Moffitt."
Overall, Publix operates more than 860 pharmacies, mainly in its 1,049 supermarkets, in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.
