Kroger earns key accreditation for all of its pharmacies

The Kroger Co. has attained a key certification as its expands health care services across its more than 2,000 pharmacies.

Kroger Health, the Cincinnati-based grocer’s health services arm, said this week that all of its pharmacies have now achieved the CPPA Community Pharmacy Practice Accreditation through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). CPPA accreditation attests to the high quality of Kroger Health’s clinical care and practices throughout its pharmacy network, including services such as immunizations, medication therapy management, and health and wellness screenings.

"Pharmacy is about much more than putting pills in a bottle," according to Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. "At Kroger Health, our team of pharmacists and technicians practice at the top of their licenses, working to serve our patients across a broad spectrum of health and wellness needs, from vaccinations and clinical counseling to diabetes prevention. This accreditation from the CPPA is a meaningful recognition of the work of our pharmacy associates nationwide."

The voluntary CPPA (Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation) community pharmacy accreditation recognizes pharmacies that meet CPPA standards in practice management, patient care services and quality improvement. Pharmacies also must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to setting and achieving goals based on regular program evaluations, patient feedback and patient care outcomes.

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Kroger Health said that in 2016 it became the first national retail pharmacy chain to earn CPPA community pharmacy accreditation, with 15 pharmacies obtaining the credential. Since the launch of a companywide initiative earlier this year, all Kroger Health pharmacies are now CPPA-accredited. 

"NABP congratulates Kroger on achieving community pharmacy accreditation for their entire chain of pharmacies," Carmen Catizone, executive director/secretary at NABP. "With the addition of this accreditation to their portfolio, they further demonstrate their commitment to providing patient care services that improve health outcomes." 

Launched in 2012, CPPA was formed through a partnership of NABP, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Overall, Kroger Health operates 2,270 pharmacies and more than 200 retail health clinics in 35 states, serving more than 14 million customers with its team of 22,000 health care practitioners, who range from pharmacists and nurse practitioners to dietitians and pharmacy technicians. In fiscal 2018, Kroger reported pharmacy sales of $10.62 billion, accounting for 8.8% of total sales.

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According to the Drug Channels Institute, Kroger is the nation’s sixth-largest pharmacy, with estimated prescription revenues (including retail and specialty pharmacy) of $13.4 billion, up 4.7% year over year.