Pharmacy, HME provider co-brand hastings will act as the home delivery piece and Discount Drug Mart as the in-store piece
By Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
Updated Fri April 25, 2014
MEDINA, Ohio - In an unusual partnership, Discount Drug Mart and Hastings Professional Medical Equipment have joined forces to create what they call a healthcare destination.
“Chains have tried to add HME but they tried to do it themselves,” said Dave Lyman, vice president of business development/strategic planning for Hastings. “I think partnering with someone who's established and understands the market and the process makes it much easier.”
Because Hastings is a full-line provider of home medical equipment and respiratory services, the partnership allows Discount Drug to expand beyond compression hosiery and bent mental items. Hastings, which has two locations, will expand into new markets via Discount Drug's footprint of 71 retail locations. Hastings is in the process of putting endcaps on the HME aisles in Discount Drug stores to promote its services and products. The companies also plan a major advertising campaign to spread the word.
For many HME items, like a CPAP machine, patients can also get set up at the pharmacy if they prefer. Not everybody wants a provider in his home, says Lyman.
“Hastings is the home delivery piece and Discount Drug Mart is the in-store piece,” he said.
Both companies enjoy good reputations in the communities they serve, says Lyman.
“We absolutely want to build on those reputations and that's why we are keeping both names,” he said. “It's a co-brand.”
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