UVA Health expanding pharmacy services with new facility in Albemarle County

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - UVA Health is expanding its reach and creating dozens of jobs with a new pharmacy center in Albemarle County.

The 40,000 sq ft. center is designed to serve more patients and improve access to prescriptions.

“UVA Health is growing in our services and our expansion and with that comes patients with medication needs and so we want to be able to support all of the patients across UVA Health with this facility,” UVA Health Chief Pharmacy Officer Danielle Griggs said.

UVA Health says the new Pharmacy Centralized Services Center will help meet the growing demand for specialty, ambulatory, and home delivery services.

It’s being built inside North Fork, UVA’s Discovery Park in northern Albemarle County.

“We’ll be able to help with benefit analysis, prior authorization services and direct outreach to help patients stay adherent to medication,” UVA Health Pharmacy Manager Morgan Astrin said.

The facility will feature advanced automation systems capable of processing up to 4,000 prescriptions per shift meaning patients get their medication much quicker.

The health system calls the expansion a key milestone in their goal to become a national leader in pharmacy innovation.

“By centralizing and streamlining certain operation workflows and activities as well as our patient services, we’ll be able to expand our reach and expand our capacity to further serve patients across the commonwealth and beyond,” Griggs said.

The new center also expected to bring 50 new jobs to the region, including pharmacists, technicians, and IT specialists.

Recruitment is already underway with a virtual hiring event set for April 25 as well as an in-person one at North Fork on May 1.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.