Publix’s Strategy to Differentiate in Specialty Pharmacy

Publix opened an outpatient pharmacy at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa in 2013. This was Publix’s first step into the specialty pharmacy market. Publix was trying to reach the specialty patients that visited its retail pharmacies.

Publix created a mini specialty call center at its central-fill operation in Orlando. The company also upgraded its technology to make pharmacists aware that there was a specialty patient prescription.

Publix created a closed-door specialty pharmacy in Orlando to serve the growing number of patients. Publix is now licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC.

Publix Pharmacy recently opened its 13^th in-hospital pharmacy in the state of Florida in the Anderson Family Cancer Institute at Jupiter Medical Center, in Jupiter, Florida.

In addition to services available at Publix pharmacies, this location provides access to medications not typically available in traditional pharmacies, including, but not limited to, those used to treat carcinomas, leukemias, lymphomas, melanomas and sarcomas.

Patients may receive their first prescription at the hospital and obtain refills at their local Publix Pharmacy. Publix operates more than 1,250 stores and has sales of more than $38 billion.

 Takeaway: Comprehensive specialty pharmacy services combines with the company’s retail locations, help Publix differentiate itself from other specialty pharmacies