Improving how people manage their medication

Nearly 50 percent of all patients in the United States do not take their medications as directed, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Because so many people depend on their prescriptions to stay well, this figure is alarming.

And it’s not just your health that’s affected. If you’re chronically ill and you don’t take your prescription medications on time, you may end up in the hospital. Mismanagement of medication results in roughly $100 billion in avoidable hospital costs each year.

Staying on schedule with medications is particularly difficult for the one in four Americans who are managing two or more chronic illnesses at the same time, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

So, we collaborated with TowerView Health and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Medicine) on a pilot program to find a solution.

TowerView Health created a pre-filled medication tray that fits inside a digitally-connected pillbox, enabling Independence to monitor when a member misses a dose. Then we remind the member to take the medication through notifications sent by phone, text, or email.

Via an integrated software platform, a Penn Medicine research coordinator is notified when members haven’t been taking their medication over a period of time. They then call to see if members need any additional assistance.

Medication adherence technologies like TowerView are significantly improving the way people manage their health and experience healthier lives.

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