Pharmacy News Article

Oct. 1Wegmans has topped another national list, this time for having the highest customer satisfaction ratings among supermarket pharmacies.

J. D. Power and Associates surveyed 12,215 pharmacy customers to calculate the results of its 2009 National Pharmacy Study. Wegmans scored 865 points out of a possible 1,000.

"Our pharmacists truly care for our customers, and they show that every day in the service they deliver," said Susan Novotny-Cannata, pharmacy operations manager of Wegmans' Buffalo division. "We know what we do is appreciated, but it's truly gratifying to be recognized so prominently for something that means so much to us."

Wegmans was the only supermarket pharmacy to score five-out-of-five (classified as "among the best") in seven of eight categories. Those categories were overall experience; store convenience; store layout and design; nonpharmacist staff; medication availability and information; and cost competitiveness. It scored four out of five ("better than most") for remote ordering convenience.

Winn-Dixie came in second with 860 points, followed by Publix with 855. No local supermarket pharmacies besides Wegmans were listed.

Health Mart, which has nearly 30 stores in Western New York and the Southern Tier, ranked first among chain drug store pharmacies with a score of 864. The Medicine Shoppe, which has stores in Niagara Falls, Lockport and Medina, came in second with 857.

CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid rated "about average" with scores of 794, 790 and 783, respectively. Each of the mega chains scored below the chain drug store average of 798.

Among mass merchandisers, Target landed the number one spot with 831 points. Sam's Club came in third place with 813, followed by Kmart (809) and Walmart (787).

schristmann@buffnews.com

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