Focusing on member health

More and more, Sam’s Club as a brand is becoming associated with health care, and not just through its 604 pharmacy operations, 567 optical locations and 420 hearing facilities. Sam’s Club made headlines in the past year by becoming the first retailer to complement its full suite of healthcare offerings with a health exchange solution created in partnership with health insurer Aetna.

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Sam’s Club pharmacies continue to host 10 free monthly health screenings nationwide each year for members and non-members. “Offering free screenings for the fifth consecutive year is part of our commitment to improve the lives and wellbeing of people in the communities we serve,” said Jill Turner-Mitchael, SVP Sam’s Club health and wellness. “We’re determined to continue finding ways to make health care accessible.”



Sam’s Club prides itself on its suite of immunization offerings, which include the ability for small business members to schedule in-office flu vaccinations for their employees at select locations. Such services are communicated to members through Sam’s Club’s bi-monthly wellness magazine, Healthy Living Made Simple, which in its fourth year reaches 8 million members.



“Whenever people visit Sam’s Club at all, I want them to be able to experience health-and-wellness in a way that they leave healthier no matter how they engage with us,” said Sherri Thomas, director, managed care services for Sam’s Club, in discussing the health exchange launch with Drug Store News. “If it’s through our pharmacy, optical or hearing services, if they’re engaged in the exchange, if it’s through our health screenings — I want them to be a healthier person because they’re engaged with Sam’s Club.”



That focus on member health is paying dividends: A J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Pharmacy Study ranked Sam’s Club Pharmacy “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Mass Merchandiser Pharmacies.”