“Just walk out” — Prisma Health and Amazon open staffless store inside children’s hospital

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Imagine being able to walk into a store, grab the items you want, and walk out — without ever interacting with a cashier.

Well now doctors, nurses, and guests at Prisma Health’s Richland campus can do just that.

Located inside Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (at 7 Richland Medical Park Drive in Columbia), and powered by Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology, the new store will offer convenient 24-hour access to ready-to-eat, healthy, food choices.

“I think it’s a great idea. Our team members have such a limited amount of time for lunch and dinner. And so to be able to walk in here, scan your card, grab your food, and go right back out, is going to be a tremendous help to our team members. There’s not a long line that we’re waiting for in the cafeteria, it’s just a quick grab and go,” says Community Engagement Manager for Prisma Health Midlands, Regina Brown.

Leaders say with the size and location of the Richland Hospital campus, traveling to off-site food establishments can be time consuming and impractical, especially for third shift employees.

The new store eliminates that barrier by allowing each person to simply scan their payment card of choice before entering.

Nearly 60 cameras on the ceiling track the items picked up from — or returned to — the shelves and automatically charge the customer’s selected card upon exit.

CEO of the Prisma Health Midlands Market, Michael Bundy, says the new staffless store will give employees and guests an outlet to destress and re-energize.

“If you’re at our hospital and it’s three in the morning, and you need 15 minutes to take a break, and you just want a healthy snack, or some comfort food even, to get your mind reset, and have a mental health moment, this is gonna give you that option, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” says Bundy.

Prisma Health is collaborating with its food service provider, Morrison Healthcare, to ensure the store is well stocked with a range of food and drink options.

Opening on Thursday, September 26th, the store will become the third amazon retail site in the nation to open inside a healthcare facility.

“Come get your food, they’ll be ready, they’re open, it was easy. I just scanned my card and out the door I went,” says Brown.