Solutions’ Ease of Use – Key to Adoptability and Patient Adherence
Scottsdale, AZ- Jan 9, 2012- MedApps, Inc., a leading mHealth (mobile telehealth) innovator is pleased to announce its alliance with MedMinder to bring connected, remote medication management to MedApps’ product and service offerings of flexible ScalableCare services.
Filed under mHealth, Pharmacy by on Jan 10th, 2012. Comment. 
12 October 2010
The Government should do more to help people find trustworthy health websites and use online health services safely and effectively, says a new report on the ethics of ‘personalised healthcare’. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics warns that whilst online health information and services are convenient to use and extend choice, they could mislead, confuse or create unnecessary anxiety for the people who use them.
Read more on Government should do more to help people who use online health services…
Filed under Patient Safety, Pharmacy, Technology by on Oct 12th, 2010. Comment.
The Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners Healthcare, announced Wednesday encouraging initial findings from a medication adherence study
BOSTON, MA, JUNE 23, 2010 — The Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners Healthcare, announced today encouraging initial findings from a medication adherence study, using a wireless electronic pill bottle to remind patients with high blood pressure to take their medication. The ongoing study measured a 27% higher rate of medication adherence in patients using Internet connected medication packaging and feedback services compared to controls.
The randomized controlled study assessed the impact of the wireless GlowCap developed by Vitality, Inc. GlowCaps fit popular pill bottles and signal patients with light and sound when it is time to take the medication inside. An embedded wireless connection enables the GlowCap to respond to the patient with automated calls for any missed dose, weekly progress reports, and refill reminders. GlowCaps also share adherence with physicians and a social network if the patient chooses.
“As healthcare providers, we must find strategies that help patients become more adherent to their medications and care plans,” said Alice Watson, MD, MPH, Center for Connected Health. “We are extremely encouraged by these interim results, showing a high rate of adherence in users of the GlowCap system.”
In total, one hundred and thirty nine patients diagnosed with hypertension and taking an antihypertensive medication were enrolled in a six month study starting in August 2009. Participants were required to have Internet access and an email account to receive reports. Each participant was randomized into one of three groups: those in the control group did not receive any communication or GlowCap services; the intervention group received visual and audio reminders from the GlowCap as well as missed dose reminder phone calls, medication refill reminders and progress reports emailed to the patient, family member and /or their primary care provider. Participants in an intervention-plus group additionally received a financial incentive if they exceeded a monthly adherence goal of 80%.
Three month interim analysis shows study participants in the intervention and intervention-plus group achieved adherence rates of 98% and 99%, respectively. This was significantly higher than the control group, which had an adherence rate of 71%. The study is also measuring blood pressure control and subject satisfaction. Final analysis of the study is anticipated this fall. “GlowCaps use real-time feedback loops to act on a number of behavioral motivators: reminders, doctor accountability, social support and help with refills,” said David Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Vitality. “These are instructive findings for pharmaceutical manufacturers and payors who have a vested interest in improving patient outcomes with their products and services.”
Read more on Encouraging initial findings from a medication adherence study…
Filed under Patient management, Pharmacy, Technology by on Jun 28th, 2010. Comment.
Pictured at today’s launch were minister Keith Brown, Sian Armour, Dr Jane Thompson (both Ubiquigent) and Sir Philip Cohen. |
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| A new company, backed by American money and tasked with the development of drugs to fight cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, was launched in Dundee today (writes Bruce Robbins). | |||
Filed under Pharmacy by on Mar 4th, 2010. Comment.
Patients will be able to order their repeat prescriptions online
Patients in Wales will soon be able to book a GP appointment or order repeat prescriptions via an NHS website.
Funding of £1.7m has been announced for the bilingual My Health Online website by Health Minister Edwina Hart.
Website users will also be able to get advice and information to help them manage health conditions.
The British Medical Association said any development giving better access to information will be welcomed, but the system must be secure.
Once constructed the website My Health Online will link to the existing NHS Direct Wales website.
Ms Hart said: “The demand for online GP services is increasing and we recognise that providing accessible information is critical if we want to enable people to change their lifestyles and improve their health.
“The Welsh Assembly Government is also committed to improving access to health services for people living in rural communities. My Health Online will particularly save lengthy journeys to GP practices.
“The website will also help empower people to take responsibility for their own health through the completion of a health diary which can be shared with their GP.”
Read more on New website will offer online GP services to patients in Wales…
Filed under Community services, Patient management, Pharmacy by on Jan 5th, 2010. Comment.
Posted on Mon, Nov 09, 2009 – 02:45 pm
Adolescent nonadherence has presented a major challenge to healthcare professionals in transplantation and other medical fields, who for years have tried to address the issue with little success. But researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York recently published the results of a study showing that text messaging could make a big difference in the rate of adherence among young liver transplant patients.
Filed under eHealth, Mobile Health, Pharmacy by on Nov 11th, 2009. Comment.
Placebo effect ‘starts in the spine’
“Research suggests that the placebo effect works, in part, by blocking pain signals in the spinal cord from arriving at the brain in the first place”, The Times reported. The newspaper said the spinal cords of 15 healthy volunteers had been scanned while they received laser ‘pinpricks’ to their hands.
Filed under Pharmacy by on Oct 17th, 2009. Comment.
The Evening News reported that Edinburgh pharmacists are to offer heart checks on the Cariopod.
Cardiopod in Edinburgh
Cardiopod in pharmacy
Telehealth Solutions’ CardioPod is a system for facilitating the NHS Health Check.
Read more on Edinburgh pharmacist to offer heart checks on Cardiopod…
Filed under Pharmacy, Technology by on Aug 27th, 2009. Comment.
Powerful software which mimics the evolution of superbugs could help scientists tackle them more effectively, researchers hope.
Edinburgh University scientists have been working with computer models which could help develop more effective antibiotic treatments.
Filed under Pharmacy by on Jul 24th, 2009. Comment.
Almost all of Scotland’s GP practices now have electronic links to community pharmacies in the first system of its kind in the UK.
The electronic Acute Medication Service (eAMS) allows prescriptions to be transmitted directly, cutting down on paperwork and reducing risk of error.
Filed under Pharmacy by on Jul 24th, 2009. Comment.
