Implementing MTM, med sync services

Privately held since 2005, Shopko operates a wide range of store formats with healthcare offerings, ranging from full-service pharmacies to optical centers. Nearly 30% of Shopko’s sales come from these health-related services.

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Since its inception in 1962, the company has continued to grow and expand its reach, tailoring its various formats to meet the needs of different markets. The 133 stores it operates under the Shopko banner offer shoppers in small and mid-size cities and their suburbs a mixture of general merchandise and pharmacy and optical services across an 80,000-sq.-ft. footprint. Meanwhile, the company’s 178 Shopko Hometown stores average between 15,000 sq. ft. and 35,000 sq. ft., and operate in more rural locations. Most of these stores also offer pharmacy services.



Shopko fills more than 14 million pharmacy prescriptions and in excess of 525,000 optical prescriptions every year, spokeswoman Michelle Hansen said.



Founded by a pharmacist, Shopko has continued to evolve its pharmacy business over the past half century, most recently focusing on professional and personalized services, targeting both acute and chronic patients.



For example, Shopko is committed to medication therapy management at both state and national levels, and was the first chain pharmacy to join the Wisconsin Pharmacy Quality Collaborative, a group of pharmacists and healthcare plans working to create a reimbursement system based on pharmacists’ ability to drive outcomes.



In addition, Shopko’s pharmacies are moving to an appointment-based model by implementing a medication synchronization system.



In March, the company debuted 20 new Shopko Hometown outlets, converting outlets in nine states that it acquired from Alco Stores Inc.



That expansion is only the beginning. “We plan to accelerate new store growth in the second half of 2015 and 2016,” Hansen said.