Publix and BayCare Health System Team Up to Launch First Telehealth Center [VIDEO]

Walk-In Care Provided by BayCare Expands Access to Board-Certified Physicians

LAKELAND / CLEARWATER , Fla., (Jan. 19, 2018) – Imagine if people were able to see a doctor and pick-up medications while doing their grocery shopping? That is all possible through a collaboration between Publix and BayCare Health System. 

Publix and BayCare teamed up to launch Walk-In Care provided by BayCare that will be available at 26 in-store Publix Pharmacy locations by the end of the year. The telehealth center features a private room where shoppers can receive non-urgent medical care from board-certified physicians through teleconferencing and medical diagnostic equipment.

The kiosk, which is interactive and user-friendly, allows patients to easily enter their symptoms and work with medical tools such as thermometers, otoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and high definition cameras to help doctors make an accurate diagnosis. Publix Pharmacy support staff are available to assist patients, if needed. 

Watch the video.

“We are excited to bring access to high-quality, compassionate care through this convenient and innovative technology,” said Glenn Waters, executive vice president and chief operating officer at BayCare Health System. “Our goal is to improve the health of our community by helping individuals access the right level of care in the right place. Our collaboration with Publix helps us do just that.”

The first center opened in Dec. 2017 at the Publix Shoppes of Lithia located at 3461 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Valrico, Florida. The second center opened Jan. 8 at the Publix Supermarket at City Plaza located at 16041 Tampa Palms Blvd. W., Tampa, Florida. During the remainder of this year, 24 additional centers will open at various Publix supermarkets across the Tampa Bay area.

“Pharmacists are a part of many patients’ wellness plans, and our Publix Pharmacists have been serving our communities through a variety of services like vaccinations, health screenings, free and discounted medications, and more,” said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations. “This Walk-In Care clinic takes our partnership with physicians to a new level. Together, we’ll help keep our community feeling well.”

Walk-In Care Provided by BayCare is a component of a three-part collaboration between Publix and BayCare to help improve the health and wellness of the Tampa Bay area. The organizations recently opened four in-hospital Publix Pharmacies at BayCare hospitals in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to provide patients with bedside prescription delivery during hospital discharge, access to specialty medications and refills at any Publix Pharmacy location.

Publix stores in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Polk counties also feature BayCare HealthHub self-service screening stations to provide shoppers with free health information, including blood pressure, pulse, weight and body mass index.

About BayCare Health System

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 14 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit www.BayCare.org.

About Publix

Publix is privately owned and operated by its more than 190,000 employees, with 2016 sales of $34 billion. Currently Publix has 1,168 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The company has been named one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for 20 consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s website, corporate.publix.com.

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