Biotechnology Healthcare - September/October 2008 - (Page 38)

Med-eMonitor, InforMedix’s so-called smart pillbox sylvania Health System, in Philadelphia; Wayne State University, in Detroit; and the University of Texas Health Science Center, in San Antonio. Patients have been found to have adherence rates in excess of 90 percent. Research presented at the Third International Conference on HIV Treatment Adherence, in Jersey City, N.J., found that use of the MedeMonitor was able to achieve 89.5 percent medication adherence rates in HIV patients (Bangsberg 2008). The device may be particularly useful for patients such as brittle diabetics or transplant recipients, who have complex regimens and must maintain strict adherence rates to avoid costly hospitalizations. Some companies have approached the issue of noncompliance from a practice management standpoint. San Diego-based VisionTree Healthcare Solutions used its decision-support software to create a Web-based healthcare management product. With the Optimal Care system, patients may enter personal information onto registration forms, patient history forms, or outcome data assessments online from anywhere. This information is synchronized with EMRs and practice-management software, creating a virtual chart; images can be saved as secure online files. This information can be collected for individual patient management, clinical trials, or quality guidelines. The system keeps track of completed appointments, and patient information is accessible for authorized healthcare providers via Smartphone. Patients receive reminders and personalized health information in the form of custom documents and videos at their office or through their home computer. The focus is on containing costs by improved workflow, efficiency, and practice management guidelines. Phytel, based in Dallas, has won awards for its Proactive Patient Outreach Web-based platform, which searches for noncompliant patients through EMRs and practice management systems. Phytel maintains a registry of active patients who are lost to follow-up or who are noncompliant, contacts them either by voice mail or e-mail, and then monitors their response by tracking billing data and appointment bookings. Preventive strategies for patients are tracked and updated according to evidencedbased recommendations, such as National Committee for Quality Assurance Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measures. Patients also are sent reminders for prescription medications or refills. All information is secure and HIPAA compliant. The software comes with a comprehensive tracking system that allows providers to monitor the notification process and billing to determine the return on investment. Phytel guarantees a 300 percent ROI. recognized that the success of any therapy is dependent on the partnership between patients and healthcare providers. Through the power of effective communication and the judicious use of resources, this relationship can be secured in a manner that is convenient for both healthcare consumers and providers. The correct combination of tools is currently unknown, but the perceived benefit of the products described may offer a significant ROI in terms of healthcare dollars and improved quality of life. REFERENCES Bangsberg DR, Monk A, Guzman D, Johnson M. Electronic adherence monitoring using the Med-eMonitor adherence system. Presented at the Third International Conference on HIV Treatment Adherence. March 17, 2008. «http://www.iapac.org/ AdherenceConference01.html». Accessed on Sept. 9, 2008. Kripalani S, Yao X, Haynes RB. Interventions to enhance medication adherence in chronic medical conditions: a systemic review. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:540–550. Osterberg L, Blaschke T. Adherence to medication. N Engl J Med. 2005; 353:487–497. O’Connor PJ. Improving medication adherence: challenges for physicians, payers, and policymakers. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1802–1804. KFF (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation). Employee Health Benefits: 2007 Annual Survey. September 2007. Thomas T, Kedia P, Cohen R. Impact of an internet-based education program on colonoscopy attendance and quality. American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting and Postgraduate course. Oct. 14, 2007, Philadelphia. Abstract P261. Turpin RS, Blumberg PB, Sharda SE, et al. Patient adherence: present state and future directions. Dis Manag. 2007:10:305–310. Zimmerman R. Don’t 4get ur pills: text messaging for health. Wall Street Journal. Nov. 20, 2007; D1, D3. CONCLUSION Nonadherence to therapy is a significant contributor to healthcare costs. As the prevalence of chronic disease increases, more emphasis is placed on efficacy of treatment. It is Disclosure Marshall Fleurant, MD, reports that he has no financial arrangements or affiliations with manufacturers or products mentioned in this article. 38 BIOTECHNOLOGY HEALTHCARE · SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 http://www.iapac.org/AdherenceConference01.html http://www.iapac.org/AdherenceConference01.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Biotechnology Healthcare - September/October 2008

Biotechnology Healthcare - September/October 2008 Openers Editorial/David B. Nash, MD, MBA Contents At a Glance: Multiple Sclerosis Drug Track Personalized Medicine Healthcare Reform’s Effects on Biologic Access Breast Cancer Status Testing: A Crapshoot With Deadly Odds Trends, Issues, and Perspectives In the Management of MS So High-Tech, Yet So Simple The Evolution of Ascertaining the Value Proposition Specialty Pharmacy Employer to Employer Health Plan Confidential Trends

Biotechnology Healthcare - September/October 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.