Indianapolis-based Eskenazi Health expects its new $10 million, 32,000-square-foot pharmacy central fulfillment center to fill 60% of prescriptions within the next five years.
The facility, which opened in early March, is part of the system’s strategy to manage rising prescription volumes, which are projected to exceed 1.3 million in 2024, according to a news release from the health system.
To reduce staff burden and improve efficiency, the center uses machine automation to fill prescriptions, including blister packaging for complex medication regimens. Prescriptions will be delivered either to one of Eskenazi’s eight retail pharmacies or directly to patients’ homes.
Retail pharmacies within the system will continue to fill certain prescriptions on-site, such as antibiotics and medications needed the same day.
“We have a vision for a fundamentally different model of health system retail pharmacy,” Christopher Wickesberg, PharmD, director of Eskenazi Health Pharmacy, said in the release.
Later this year, the facility will operate a centralized pharmacy call center.
“This facility will allow us to take the commodity work out of our retail pharmacies to free up our staff to do different work. This is a-once-in-a-generation infrastructure investment that will allow Eskenazi Health to continue to meet the medication needs and improve the health of the Indianapolis community for many years to come.”