CHICAGO, IL – (October 13, 2014) – Once known as the Austin
Hospital over 75 years ago, the founding group of physicians who built
the hospital wanted it to serve as a community-focused healthcare facility
that would partner with its physicians, employees and the communities
it serves to provide quality patient-centered care, and promote wellness
and education. Subsequently, with the official grand opening of its new
outpatient retail pharmacy, and other new programs, services and expansion
projects in the works, Loretto’s founding father’s dream is
finally coming to fruition.
For the first time in its history, The Loretto Hospital opened a new retail
pharmacy that is now available to its patients and the community. Officially
named Austin Outpatient Pharmacy, the new outpatient retail pharmacy promotes
the hospital’s mantra of providing Better Standards, Better Care,
Better Outcomes, while simultaneously embraces its longstanding mission
of promoting health wellness and education to the communities it serves.
“At The Loretto Hospital, we recognize the importance of keeping our
community healthy, not just when they are in our care but when they are
discharged from the hospital. So this new pharmacy, along with other new
hospital projects, is our sincere effort to stay true to our mission.”
said Dr. Sonia Mehta, CEO and CMO of Loretto Hospital. Owned and operated
by MAAR Illinois, Inc., a local pharmacy group with other locations on
the west side of Chicago, the Austin Outpatient Pharmacy is expected to
provide “Best in Class” service to patients, employees and
the Austin and surrounding communities. Registered Pharmacist Ronak Manek,
is part of MAAR Illinois, Inc., and is the head pharmacist at Austin Outpatient
Pharmacy. According to Manek, providing the continuity of care once a
patient has been discharged is vitally important to improving health outcomes.
“It’s an honor to serve Loretto’s patients and this community.
It is always difficult to know if the patient actually picks up their
medication right away, or if they wait a few days. Our goal is to meet
the patient’s medication needs by ensuring that once they are discharged
from this hospital, they have their medication in hand and educated on
how to use them before they walk out the door. The doctors and I are committed
to partnering with the patient to provide them with the best continuum
of care,” Manek said.
Since its grand opening, the new outpatient pharmacy has gained wide acceptance
from Loretto physicians because of the convenience it offers to patients.
The Austin Outpatient Pharmacy is already a step above the traditional
pharmacy chain because of the amenities it currently offers. Services
include: free home delivery of medication to patients; counseling on all
prescribed medications; a multi-lingual staff; and a small gift shop.
In addition, the pharmacy accepts all insurance plans, including Medicare
and Medicaid.
In conjunction with the new outpatient pharmacy, The Loretto Hospital also
renovated its inpatient pharmacy to include a state-of-the-art workspace
and computer system to better serve patients while they are in the hospital’s
care. In addition, over the past several years, hospital leadership has
concentrated their efforts on bringing in number of new services, new
construction projects and establishing new community partnerships all
in hopes of improving the trust of patients and raising awareness about
the “New Loretto” around the west side of Chicago.
What’s new at Loretto includes: A new cardiac cath lab; The Connie
L. Lindsey Cancer Resource Center; new state-of-the art diagnostic imaging
suite; new Critical Care Unit, inpatient areas, emergency room and behavioral
health unit; a new Chief Experience Officer (CXO) to ensure patients are
our first priority from the time they enter the hospital until the time
they are discharged; and new doctors and expanded medical services and
programs. In collaboration with PCC Wellness, Loretto offers patients
quality primary care, geriatric medicine, an eye clinic, behavioral health
services, pediatrics, women’s health, family planning and dental
services. The Loretto Hospital is also a member of the Better Health Network
Accountable Care Entity (ACE), a new process of coordinating healthcare
services in Illinois to new potential Medicaid recipients as well as to
families already receiving Medicaid. Additionally, for the second consecutive
year, Loretto Hospital received a grade of “B” by the Leapfrog
Group in the key areas of hospital safety and quality.
“All of these projects will continue to raise awareness about our
hospital – and will help us maintain an image that people will recognize,
trust and remember. We will continue on this path of growth, innovation
and excellence to be the kind of hospital the Austin Community needs and
deserves,” Dr. Mehta said.
The Austin Outpatient Pharmacy is opened Monday – Friday from 10
a.m. – 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more
information about the Austin Outpatient Pharmacy, please call 773- 854-2500.
About The Loretto Hospital
The Loretto Hospital is a not-for-profit, community-based, and acute care hospital
located on the Far West Side of Chicago. Founded in 1939 by a group of
community doctors to create a patient centered hospital that would serve
the community regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, Loretto
has provided comprehensive medical care and social support services to
the Austin Community for 75 years. Although the largest percentage of
the hospital’s patients resides in Austin, neighboring communities
and suburbs also utilize Loretto as a healthcare resource. For more information,
please visit
www.lorettohospital.org.