MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — CVS Caremark Corp. has opened a state-of-the-art mail service pharmacy and customer center in this Illinois ­community.

The 150,000-square-foot facility, representing an investment of about $67 million, supports pharmacy inventory and fulfillment needs across the CVS Caremark pharmacy benefit management business, which serves about 60 million members throughout the United States. It holds the capability to fill 50 million prescriptions annually.

At last month’s ribbon-cutting ceremony of the facility, company officials extended appreciation to supporters from the state and region who helped make the development of the mail service pharmacy possible. Fifty-nine Illinois-based businesses were used during the construction of the facility.

The new complex will employ more than 400 people by the end of 2013, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, automation technicians and process improvement engineers. Its proprietary technology enables 90% of prescriptions to be dispensed and 80% of prescriptions to be packaged for mailing. To further assure safe and accurate dispensing, all prescriptions are visually checked by one of the on-site pharmacists before they are mailed, the company notes.

“This new CVS Caremark mail service pharmacy and customer center is a great example of our commitment as a pharmacy innovation company to helping people on their path to better health,” said CVS Caremark Corp. president and chief executive officer Larry Merlo. “The combination of technologically advanced automation and the expertise of our highly qualified pharmacy teams helps us ensure people have convenient access to affordable ­medications.”

The customer center incorporates a high-tech executive briefing room designed to introduce clients and potential partners to the full spectrum of CVS Caremark’s programs and services. Video and touchscreen technology allow direct interaction with CVS retail pharmacists, specialty pharmacists and mail service pharmacists as well as MinuteClinic nurse practitioners via real-time telepresence technology.

In combination with the mail service pharmacy capabilities, the customer center offers opportunities to work with clients and partners to identify and develop industry-leading solutions that leverage the CVS Caremark enterprise for improving access, cost and quality for patients and payers, officials point out.