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January 9, 2013A step inside Hutcheson Pharmacy in Houston would never reveal that the longtime locally owned pharmacy has changed hands. The storefront, the staff, the phone number, even the name remain the same.
After 37 years of operating under the ownership of Steve and Kathy Hutcheson on Houston, Hutcheson Pharmacy was purchased by Texas County Memorial Hospital in late July of this year.
“We believed it would be a good relationship for the local hospital to have a retail pharmacy,” Steve Hutcheson, said, “And we believe that it will make our position in the community much stronger.”
Hutcheson Pharmacy is still the only locally owned pharmacy in Houston, and Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH explained that a retail pharmacy can be an asset to the hospital and to TCMH patients.
“The dynamics of healthcare today lead all organizations, especially small, rural hospitals like TCMH, to look at all potential revenue sources and service lines,” Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, said regarding the hospital’s acquisition of a retail pharmacy.
Pharmacy hours remain the same—Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Steve Hutcheson is currently working full-time as pharmacist assisted by two techs, Tammy Floyd and Jordan Pounds.
TCMH pharmacy nurse manager, Jennifer Jordan, floats between the hospital pharmacy and Hutcheson Pharmacy, helping out as needed. Jordan is currently interviewing for a pharmacy tech position that will also float between both pharmacies.
According to Hutcheson, the pharmacy continues to accept all types of prescription coverage and will expand coverage through the new ownership by TCMH.
Hutcheson Pharmacy was also the first area pharmacy to participate in the 340B contract pharmacy program with TCMH.
The 340B contract pharmacy program provides a potential drug discount for TCMH outpatients that qualify at a participating pharmacy. Local pharmacies contract through the program to provide pharmaceuticals to patients of TCMH clinics or patients at the TCMH emergency department, excluding patients with Medicaid.
“The 340B program has been very successful,” Hutcheson said, adding, “It can save uninsured customers a lot of money on brand name prescriptions.”
The one thing that has changed inside the pharmacy is the addition of a credit card machine through TCMH.
“We are able to accept credit and debit cards, which is very convenient for our customers,” Hutcheson said.
Like pharmacies large and small across the nation, Hutcheson participates in an electronic prescription program that allows physicians to send prescriptions electronically to his store. Local physicians also utilize the electronic service.
Hutcheson Pharmacy continues to practice some services that are geared toward homebound or out of town patients. In Houston, the pharmacy delivers prescriptions, and outside of the city limits Hutcheson will mail prescriptions.
“Parents like the ability to drive up and run in for their prescription without having to bring their kids inside the store,” Hutcheson added.
Hutcheson said that with the pharmacy’s ownership changes, the most common question he is asked is about the pharmacy relocating.
“I assure people that the store is not moving,” Hutcheson said.
TCMH does have a pharmacy in the hospital, and that pharmacy serves the needs of the hospital’s inpatients. The hospital is leasing space from the Hutchesons with no plans of relocating the retail pharmacy.
“I think the potential for a retail pharmacy owned by the hospital is tremendous,” Hutcheson said. “I’m sure that TCMH can grow the services that Hutcheson Pharmacy offers.”