Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 - (Page 6) 6 DRUG TOPICS JULY 28, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Of Interest to Pharmacists The Med-eMonitor sits in a cradle connected to a drug database through a patient’s phone line. It is programmed via the Internet, after a patient or caregiver— or pharmacist as part of an MTM program—enters the necessary data on the company Web site, which then communicates with the device through a telephone hookup. The dispenser beeps and displays a large-print message screen and voice message that announces when the medication is to be taken, reminds when doses are missed, and alerts patients to potentially dangerous medication interactions. Compartments for five drugs each have sensors with time and date stamps that track when pills are removed. When two doses are missed, telephone alerts are sent to a designated caregiver. The subscription list price is $59 a month. One marketing method is through community pharmacists. Pharmacists who agree to display and promote the product in their stores get a commission on any subscriptions sold within their trade area. So far 12 stores have signed on. “Our goal is 500 to 1,000 pharmacies,” said Kneeland. “Our consumer target is professionals with elderly parents.” A similar device is MedSignals, which also rests in a cradle and is connected to a phone line. It holds four drugs in separate, programmable compartments, each with its own associated signal. Each bin is programmed on the Internet. It beeps when a dose is due, and a signal flashes indicating which drug to take. When the lid is lifted, voice announcements repeat how many pills to take, and beeps match the number of pills to be taken. Caregivers can monitor compliance through an 800 number. MedSignals is also marketed through pharmacies and physicians as a subscription, at $29 a month. demographic.” InforMedix recently signed an agreement with twoyear-old InnovationRx, which functions in a similar way to Intelecare. InnovationRx has a call center staffed by pharmacists to answer compliance questions from patients. And InforMedix has an ongoing relationship with the disease management company XLHealth. “Emerging technology is making the collection of compliance data valuable beyond the individual patient,” said Sean Teare, president of InnovationRx, which has a research partnership with Northeastern University. “The role of the pharmacists as point-of-entry into a compliance technique can be invaluable.” THE AUTHOR is a writer based in Gettysburg, Pa. How bad is the problem? A recent survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association found that nearly three out of every four American consumers do not always take their prescription medicine as directed. Compliance rates are typically lower in patients with chronic conditions, as compared with acute conditions, and drops significantly after the first six months of therapy, according to NCPA. Poor adherence leads to disease progression, complications, reduced functionality, and premature death. Among the survey’s findings: • Almost half of those polled (49%) said they had forgotten to take a prescribed medicine. • Nearly one-third (31%) had not filled a prescription they were given. • Nearly three out of 10 (29%) had stopped taking a medicine before the supply ran out. • Almost one-quarter (24%) had taken less than the recommended dosage. Internet-based data for research Both of these systems are programmed through the Internet, although neither requires an ongoing Internet connection. The data entered are themselves a compliance tool, said Kevin Aniskovich, CEO of Intelecare, a four-year-old company using a Web-based interface to notify patients through e-mail, text messages, or phone calls to comply with their medication regimen. “We started out as a refill reminder service, but that has expanded as the technology has expanded,” said Aniskovich. “Our business model now offers a wide range of compliance solutions.” Intelecare has marketing arrangements with several retail pharmacies, offering coupons along with e-mail reminders. It also sells its aggregate data to researchers. “The direction of compliance methods evolve as technology evolves,” said Aniskovich. “And the technology should be making compliance simpler, not more complicated. Our average customer is 41 years old. A simple message about compliance is very effective in our Most common reasons for noncompliance A report by marketing consultants Cutting Edge Information about pharmaceutical manufacturer programs designed to enhance medication compliance highlights the major causes of patient noncompliance: • Lack of symptoms • Cost of medications • Fear of side effects • Forgetfulness • Doubts of drug effectiveness • Social stigmas associated with disease state • Inconvenience • Regimen complexity • Confusing directions • Denial of need • Lack of drug and disease education • Insurance-related issues More information about the companies mentioned above can be found at www.informedix.com, www.medsignals.com, www.intellecare.com, and www.innovationrx.com. More information about compliance techniques is available through the National Council on Patient Information and Education at http://www.talkaboutrx.org. http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.informedix.com http://www.medsignals.com http://www.intellecare.com http://www.innovationrx.com http://www.talkaboutrx.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 Contents E-Prescribing's Return on Investment Far Outweighs Cost to R.Ph.s Medication Compliance Failure is Costly But Avertable Most Common Reasons for Noncompliance Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 - Contents (Page 1) Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 - E-Prescribing's Return on Investment Far Outweighs Cost to R.Ph.s (Page 3) Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 - E-Prescribing's Return on Investment Far Outweighs Cost to R.Ph.s (Page 4) Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 - Medication Compliance Failure is Costly But Avertable (Page 5) Drug Topics - July 28, 2008 - Most Common Reasons for Noncompliance (Page 6)
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