40% of older Americans skip doses or do not take medications

Advances in the pharmaceutical industry over the past several decades, have lead to thousands of new medications that allow physicians to treat and prevent disease. Many conditions that not so long ago were fatal are now managed effectively and safely.

But, there is one challenge that remains -- patient compliance with dosing schedules. According to the National Council for Patient Information and Education, it has been reported that 1.6 billion prescriptions are written every year in the United States with up to 40% of older Americans skipping doses or not taking their medications at all. That statistic can translate to an increased number of emergency room visits and hospital stays, and more health care dollars being spent on treating a preventable event.

For patients with faulty memories or other issues that may interfere with dosing schedules, there are in home devices that can help to ensure medication compliance.

Telehealth Monitoring is an easy-to-use in home health status monitoring system that reduces ER visits and hospital admissions. In addition to that technology, there is a peripheral device that can be added to the Telehealth Monitoring system known as MedPartner™ Medication Reminder.

MedPartner™ reminds the patient through voice commands and light cues when it is time to take their medication including the dose and which medication container to use. Patients are also alerted when they are taking medication from the wrong container. A daily record is then sent to the home care agency for clinical review. Any missed doses are then followed-up with the patient and the physician is alerted.

Using an electronic medication reminder system to ensure that prescribed medications are taken when required will result in a higher quality of life for patients and a reduction in emergency visits and hospitals stays. If this can be achieved, there will be more health care dollars available to treat other medical illnesses.

SOURCE Visiting Nurse Association of Long Island