PanCare bringing lower-cost pharmacy, optometry center to Panama City. Here's what to expect

PANAMA CITY — PanCare officials held a groundbreaking Wednesday morning for their long-awaited pharmacy and optometry center in Panama City.

The pharmacy will offer medications at lower costs while the optometry center will provide a wide range of eye care needs.

PanCare held a groundbreaking Wednesday for its pharmacy and optometry center in Panama City. Robert Thompson, PanCare chief operating officer, spoke during the event.
PanCare held a groundbreaking Wednesday for its pharmacy and optometry center in Panama City. Robert Thompson, PanCare chief operating officer, spoke during the event.

Insurance and self-pay on a sliding-fee scale will be accepted. The center, at 1515 Sherman Ave., is expected to completed by February.

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Chief Operating Officer Robert Thompson said PanCare works with manufacturers to get lower pricing for medications.

"This pharmacy meets that need, we get medications for pennies on the dollar sometimes," Thompson said. "They really bring those medications to our patients who otherwise would have to go without."

PanCare board member Judy Bryte, left, shows Kay Daniel a model depicting the entire PanCare Regional Healthcare Center campus.
PanCare board member Judy Bryte, left, shows Kay Daniel a model depicting the entire PanCare Regional Healthcare Center campus.

The groundbreaking for the pharmacy launches the first phase of the PanCare Regional Healthcare Center, a multi-discipline medical specialty complex that will serve residents throughout Northwest Florida.

Thompson said the center is greatly needed in Bay County, especially for uninsured or underinsured patients struggling to find care. He added that PanCare sees a lot of patients who need specialty care.

"Our solution to that problem really was to try to bring the services to our patients," Thompson said. "That was really the vision behind all of this when we purchased that piece of property after the hurricane and building the dream that ... Mike Hill, our president and CEO, and board of directors have been wanting to do for many years now."

County Commissioner Bill Dozier, speaking during Wednesday's groundbreaking, said Bay County's growing population of almost 200,000 residents needs the regional PanCare facility.
County Commissioner Bill Dozier, speaking during Wednesday's groundbreaking, said Bay County's growing population of almost 200,000 residents needs the regional PanCare facility.

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The other phases of the center will include a primary care clinic and a women's health clinic. PanCare's current primary care clinic at 2309 15th St., with eight exam rooms, has run out of space. The new clinic will have 12 exam rooms.

The women's health clinic will offer general GYN services, such as mammograms, ultrasounds, and CT services. Thompson said when they saw a need for women's health services in Bay County, they decided to build their own center.

Bay County Commissioner Bill Dozier said the growing county of almost 200,000 residents needs the facility. He added that the County Commission supports the project.

PanCare officials predict the regional center will add about 100 health care jobs.

As a member of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, Dozier said the scores of new jobs are a great benefit.

"I think this would be tremendous for the jobs as companies look at our area, they look at how is our health care system set up, how well is our health care system able to handle the population for our area," Dozier said. "I believe this will help."

Once the regional center is completely built, Thompson said it will feel like "mission accomplished."

"It'll feel as though we've met a very large need in the community that has gone without for a long time, it'll look great. We'll be proud of how it looks ... proud of all the jobs we've created," Thompson said. "I think we'll be most proud of the patients that we are able to treat. The patients that right now have to go without care or maybe have to delay care because of the services that aren't available to them."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: PanCare breaks ground for pharmacy, optometry center in Panama City