Lewis Drug to Join Sanford Health, Expanding Pharmacy Access Across Midwest

Lewis Drug, which has served communities for more than 80 years, will continue operating under its current brand.

Sanford Health announced that Lewis Drug, a family-owned pharmacy and retail store chain with 60 locations across South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, will be joining its network.

The partnership is expected to be finalized this fall.

Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, said, “This partnership is a natural next step in our long-term, trusted relationship and reflects our shared commitment to improving quality of life for our patients and communities and providing the highest quality pharmacy care for those we serve. Lewis Drug is a cornerstone in the communities it serves and has built a remarkably strong retail and pharmacy workforce and culture. We look forward to furthering that legacy as part of Sanford Health.”

Longstanding Collaboration

The two organizations have partnered for over 25 years to improve patient access. This includes co-located services at 11 Sanford Health clinics with Lewis Drug pharmacies, ambulatory pharmacists in Sanford clinics in Sioux Falls, and pharmacy support for Good Samaritan locations.

Sanford Health has also co-owned 44 Lewis Family Drug locations in rural communities outside Sioux Falls.

Gassen emphasized the role of the integration in safeguarding services, stating, “At a time when the health care field is facing a variety of challenges, our partnership provides stability and helps safeguard access to essential health care services for the patients and communities we serve. By bringing Lewis Drug into Sanford Health’s integrated health care system, we are helping ensure communities across the upper Midwest continue to have access to medications, vaccinations, screenings and expert support from Lewis Drug’s team of skilled pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.”

Leadership and Operations

Lewis Drug, which has served communities for more than 80 years, will continue operating under its current brand. Its team of 188 pharmacists and 1,300 employees will become part of Sanford Health. The leadership team will remain unchanged, and CEO Mark Griffin will continue in a multi-year advisory role.

Griffin said, “This partnership is built on trust, and our long-term relationship with Sanford Health laid the groundwork for the joint decision to bring Lewis Drug fully into the integrated Sanford Health system. Customers and patients will continue to have the same great experience when they walk into a Lewis store as they have for the last 80 years – from our name and branding to our outstanding and dedicated customer service.”

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