New Pharmacy Completes Tennessee Footprint
Knoxville – July 25, 2013
Middle Tennessee Pharmacy Services (MTPS), one of the largest long-term care pharmacies in Tennessee, in partnership with Guardian Pharmacy, LLC, announced the opening of East Tennessee Pharmacy Services (ETPS) in Knoxville. This follows the group’s recent opening of Guardian Mid-South Pharmacy in Memphis. The strategic expansion completes the Tennessee footprint and enables the company to seamlessly serve residents in group homes, assisted living and skilled nursing communities throughout the entire state.
No strangers to the industry, Russ Spivey and David Brown co-founded Shelbyville-based MTPS in 2005 to serve the needs of communities in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee. In just eight years, the flagship pharmacy has grown from five to 90 employees serving more than 3,000 residents.
In 2012, MTPS expanded their outreach to West Tennessee opening Guardian Mid-South Pharmacy and increased its employee base by 140 percent in one year.
The new 6,000 sq. ft. Knoxville pharmacy will open with 10 employees. The team expects to grow this number throughout 2013.
Brown and Spivey plan to utilize the innovative, service-driven business practices that their customers have come to expect. For instance, the pharmacies offer a seven day post-consumption bill which reduces costs 40 to 50 percent in comparison with the traditional 30-day billing cycle.
According to Brown, “We want to be a true partner with our customers, working side by side to improve the quality of care they offer. Whether customizing education programs or implementing the newest technology, we aim to improve the organizational efficiency of the communities we serve to ensure resident well-being.”
MTPS has partnered with Guardian Pharmacy, one of the largest long-term care pharmacy companies in the nation, since 2009.
“As a member of the Guardian Pharmacy network, we have extensive experience with this group and are confident that our combined expertise will be a great addition to the long-term care industry in East Tennessee,” said Spivey.
Noted for its industry-unique business model, Guardian offers independent long-term care pharmacies the opportunity to maintain local ownership and operations while benefiting from the resources of a large company including real-time analytics, leadership development and assistance with the intensely complex revenue cycle.
“This new pharmacy is an important milestone for David, Russ and their staff and is a testament to their emphasis on customers, employees and community,” said Kendall Forbes, co-founder of Guardian Pharmacy. “Their entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of the industry has been a tremendous asset to our company.”
The combined Guardian entity now serves more than 42,000 long-term care patients through 21 pharmacies across 14 states. MTPS plays an important role in the company and earned the 2012 Guardian Pharmacy of the Year award.
About Guardian
Guardian Pharmacy, LLC, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is one of the nation’s largest long-term care pharmacy companies and ranks among Georgia’s fastest growing companies. Guardian’s pharmacies focus on providing outstanding client service to long-term care facilities including assisted living, skilled nursing, and others. Founded in 2004, Guardian has experienced a 46 percent compounded annual growth rate which the company attributes to its unique Local-Autonomy business model. Pharmacy operators participate in local ownership and benefit from Guardian’s experience in high-growth, specialty pharmacies. www.guardianpharmacy.net.