McKesson Corporation: The Preferred Partner of America’s Healthcare Systems

Among the first businesses in the United States to make use of the bar-code technology and RFID tagging system in distributing their goods is McKesson Corporation. The business thrives in the pharmaceutical industry and is listed as the 14th largest business in the country based on the annual revenue it generates. During their 2013 fiscal year, the company was able to generate more than $122.45 billion.

This American company is headquartered in New York City and is engaged in the distribution of pharmaceutical products at a retail sales level. They also provide medical supplies, care management tools and health information technology. Considered as one of the oldest continually operating ventures in the country, McKesson doesn’t just operate within the United States as they also have offices in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom.

In 1833, the company kicked off as a distributor of botanical drugs. The business started out as Olcott & McKesson after its founders Charles Olcott and John McKesson. Daniel Robbins joined the venture and after the death of Olcott, the company changed its corporate name to McKesson & Robbins in 1853. Through acquisitions and merger of businesses, the company eventually dropped the name of Robbins and made a fresh corporate image under the name McKesson Corporation.

The largest chunk of the sales of the enterprise is derived from its technology business arm. The McKesson Provider Technologies is the retail name of its software development division. 50% of the healthcare systems in the United States rely on the services provided by the business. They provide web-based cardiac imaging, information management solutions and other digital image technology and reporting useful in the healthcare system. Health Mart is the name of the chain of pharmacies that the company wholly operates. There are about 3,400 stores that are part of the Health Mart network.