Concept puts pharmacist at 'front and center of patient care'

WADSWORTH, Ohio — Ritzman Pharmacy is holding the grand opening of its “pharmacy of the future” location in the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Education and Wellness Center.

Ritzman said the weeklong event, kicking off on March 7, will introduce a new pharmacy experience that puts the pharmacist “front and center of patient care” and takes a holistic approach to wellness. Along with traditional pharmacy services, patients will have access to a membership-based medical fitness facility, primary care services, physical therapy, medication management and a team-based approach to care that focuses on overall well-being, according to Ritzman.

Ritzman Pharmacy at NEOMED, in Rootstown, Ohio, will carry Ritzman’s specialty items, including fitness and health-related technology products like activity trackers, Bluetooth scales and smartphone thermometers; homeopathic and natural remedies; pharmacist-recommended energy products, including pre- and post-workout supplements, protein powders and energy boosters; and the Ritzman brand collection, including supplements made with premium ingredients formulated for optimal absorption into the body.

In addition, reflecting Ritzman and NEOMED’s commitment to locally sourced products, the new pharmacy location will carry Ohio-made products, including a selection of Monica Potter Home products, as well as Ohio-centered apparel and memorabilia. Products typically available at Ritzman pharmacies in northeastern Ohio will also be regularly stocked, the drug chain said.

Ritzman and NEOMED announced the “pharmacy of the future” project last September. The drug chain allied with Pharmacy Innovations LLC, a NEOMED affiliate, to develop the concept.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with this new ‘pharmacy of the future,’ the finishing piece needed to round out our integrated health care ecosystem,” Hannah Cross, managing pharmacist for Ritzman Pharmacy, said in a statment. “Personally, I am proud to be at the forefront of this effort to promote community-oriented, whole-person health. The pharmacy experience can be so much more than an errand to check off a list, and we know that our customers and patients will value what Ritzman Pharmacy at NEOMED is offering.”

At the grand opening event, Ritzman Pharmacy will offer daily deals, free samples and product demos, and several prize drawings, including a $250 gift card and other prizes. The chain also will hold a “Ritzman Restores” event in which customers can make their own essential oil foot soak.

Ritzman Pharmacy operates 25 pharmacies in Ohio, including 11 locations inside Buehler’s Fresh Food supermarkets and one inside an IGA grocery store.