KMART OFFERS HOME HEALTH CARE LINE

TROY, Mich. -- Kmart here began a new service on July 15 offering home health care products through a catalog on display at the chain's 1,660 pharmacies.

"The pharmacist will place the order and then call the customer when the order comes in," said Susan England, health care and communications specialist for Kmart.

The catalogs are available on a display near the pharmacy, said England. Products featured include back supports, specially contoured pens, easy-grip kitchen items and garden tools, support pillows, walkers, wheelchair accessories, incontinence products and grip bars for the bathroom.

"The pharmacists are excited about the catalog," said England. "They are looking forward to being able to share their services. People already look to them for advice. This is another step in helping our customers acquire products that may be tied into their prescription needs.

"The primary advantage is convenience for our customers," said England.

According to Kmart, its pharmacies dispense more than 56 million prescriptions annually. Kmart already has home health care sections in 400 of its stores with pharmacies, some of which also serve nursing homes, said England.

Having the catalog available "allows us to offer more products," said England. "As the health care market changes, there is more information coming out, and there's a lot more home recovery. It's estimated that 9 million to 11 million people use home health care. We saw a greater need and, with the aging of the population, a trend that will continue to grow."

Kmart will add pages to the catalog featuring additional products, such as canes and crutches, said England.