BayCare Health System Inc. is partnering with Publix Super Markets Inc. to become the grocery and pharmacy chain’s provider of telehealth and health screening services.

BayCare will initially roll out its branded telehealth sites to a yet-to-be determined number of Publix stores in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties in Florida. In addition, BayCare will operate health screening stations at all 115 Publix pharmacies in the four-county area. Concurrently, Publix will operate retail pharmacies at five BayCare hospitals.

“Our goal is to provide more convenient access to the right care through telehealth and screening services for the patient,” says a BayCare Health spokeswoman.

Patients using BayCare’s telehealth service consult with a board-certified physician in the BayCare network. Each telehealth site has a private room for physician consultations and medical diagnostic equipment, including stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, high-definition cameras that physicians can instruct patients to use to aid in their diagnosis. Physicians can diagnose such non-emergency medical conditions as flu or cold, cough, pink eye, low grade fever, sinus infection and skin rashes, Publix says. Patients do not need to schedule an appointment.

Physicians can also prescribe medications which can be filled on site by a Publix pharmacist. Publix pharmacy staff will be available to assist patients as needed. Opening dates for the telehealth stations have not been determined.

While pricing for a telehealth visit has not been finalized, BayCare says the cost per visit will be competitive with that of other telehealth services. BayCare currently charges $45 per telehealth visit through its BayCare Anywhere mobile app.

Patients can use Publix’s self-service screening stations to measure blood pressure and heart rate, and calculate body mass index at no cost. Additional screening services such as blood glucose and cholesterol screenings can be performed by a Publix pharmacist for $45. Patients can electronically send results of their screening directly to their BayCare physician.

Health screenings are provided through kiosks from higi, a Chicago-based health technology provider. Health screenings through the self-service kiosks aid health care payers and providers in tracking consumers at risk for illness or chronic conditions so those patients can be treated sooner, rather than later when their condition may be more acute and costlier to treat.

“We’ve had the higi stations in our stores for a few years and our customers enjoy the convenience they provide,” a Publix spokesperson says.

In addition, Publix is purchasing four existing BayCare retail pharmacies at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa; Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor; Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater; and St. Anthony’s Hospital, St. Petersburg. A fifth Publix pharmacy will be built in Winter Haven Hospital. The supermarket chain will operate all five pharmacies. Publix will also provide free, bedside prescription delivery services to patients at BayCare’s 14 hospitals in the four-county area, the company says.