MALVERN, Pa. — McKesson High Volume Solutions (HVS) announced a pharmacy automation agreement with Discount Drug Mart, Inc., an Ohio-based retail drug store chain that operates more than 70 pharmacies in the state.

As part of the deal, McKesson HVS will provide a dispensing automation platform for Discount Drug Mart’s central fill pharmacy to be located in Avon Lake, Ohio. The ability to process a significant portion of its prescription volume at a central location will enable pharmacy staff to spend more time providing professional services, thus strengthening Discount Drug Mart’s commitment to providing outstanding customer service and value.

Pharmacy automation from McKesson HVS is an effective way for retail chain and health system pharmacies to fulfill large numbers of prescription orders accurately and efficiently. McKesson HVS’s expertise with providing central fill solutions customized to a pharmacy’s unique specifications will enable Discount Drug Mart to optimize prescription processing across the board, while also maximizing staff efficiency and reducing inventory carrying costs. Other benefits of the McKesson HVS system include the ability to ensure patient medication safety through robotic counting and packaging and the opportunity to redirect pharmacy resources to clinical programs that enhance patient care.

Discount Drug Mart will also have access to the vast resources of McKesson through its relationship with McKesson HVS. Central fill is a complex system that depends on the seamless integration of many different technologies – such as pharmaceutical distribution, inventory management, logistics and pharmacy automation – to create a successful high-volume prescription processing model. McKesson HVS leverages these technologies from other McKesson businesses and adds value to them in such a way that the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

“The efficiencies we expect to gain from implementing a central fill operation will allow our pharmacy staff to enhance the customer service experience by providing better patient care while promoting many of our professional and clinical services such as immunizations, medication adherence, and medication therapy management, to name just a few,” said Pete Ratycz, senior vice president of pharmacy for Discount Drug Mart. “McKesson HVS provides us with the technology, expertise and resources necessary to implement a pharmacy automation platform optimized for our business.”

“We are excited that Discount Drug Mart has selected our pharmacy automation technology to streamline its operations so that it can continue to deliver outstanding service and patient care,” said Ross MacMurray, vice president of strategic account sales for McKesson HVS. “With central fill, Discount Drug Mart staff will be able to provide patients with multiple convenient prescription dispensing options, spend more time counseling patients on medication regimens and develop clinical programs that promote healthy outcomes.”