I’ve said before that there is no magic pill to patch healthcare’s communication woes, but I‘d never thought before about the pill bottle. Announced in March, a new breed of pill bottle, imbued with smartphone technology, will not only be able to transmit information about when and how often patients are taking their medication, but it will also prompt patients with lights, sounds, and even reminder text messages. And if the programmable reminders fail to work, the bottle can escalate notices to the patient’s provider or a loved one.
Beyond improving patient health, this technology has large potential for hospitals working to reduce readmission rates and the overall healthcare system looking to coordinate care. A quote from Benjamin Franklin comes to mind: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Patient care continues to evolve, creating larger roles for outpatient nursing care and primary care providers (PCPs), precisely where I think this technology has the potential to integrate with smartphone messaging and provide that ounce of prevention. Imagine a PCP receiving an alert on his/her smartphone for immediate follow-up if too much time lapses between medication doses, or a visiting nurse receiving a message if his/her patient fails to pass a weekly biometric goal. The opportunity for immediate professional involvement can help keep patients healthier and safer.
What other magic mobile health tools do you see on the horizon?
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
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