Shopko joins ranks with Rx mobile app

A mass merchandise retailer based in the Midwest has become the latest chain to join the move toward smartphone apps that allow customers to manage their pharmacy prescriptions. Fresh off the heels of its merger with Omaha, Neb.-based Pamida, Shopko announced the launch of an app for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone users that will allow customers to refill and manage their pharmacy prescriptions.


Customers using the app can request refills, review active prescription details — including expiration dates, refills remaining and overdue refills — set up dosage reminders, and receive email and text notifications when a refill is ready. It also includes a pharmacy locator that allows customers to locate and get driving directions to a pharmacy while checking hours of operation.


“We are always exploring new ways to improve customer service and make our pharmacy services more convenient, and this app makes finding our stores and filling prescriptions on their mobile devices quick and easy for our customers,” Shopko president, chairman and CEO Paul Jones said. 


Several other retailers also have launched pharmacy apps recently. In October, Walgreens unveiled “Refill by Scan,” which allows patients to scan the bar code of a prescription and order refills in seconds, in addition to such previous technology as refill reminder text alerts and other apps for Apple, Android and BlackBerry devices. Meanwhile, supermarket chain Winn-Dixie launched a smartphone app and mobile website, m.WinnDixieRx.com. Customers can track their refill status and manage health information while locating Winn-Dixie pharmacies. An app for the Android and iPhone from CVS Caremark gives users access to the Drug Information Database and prescription management tools.