Tech Trends: Patient Compliance

Patient compliance as an issue is nothing new. Patients believe they are more compliant than they are, and physicians know this. While there have been some attempts to enable compliance and adherence, they have fallen short in some measure. GlowCap by Vitality takes an interesting spin on applying technology to help patient compliance. By using chip technology, the GlowCap reminds patients when to take their medication via a tone, light and even phone call. A standard pill bottle is dropped into the GlowCap, available via pharmacy or even Amazon.com for $99. What's different about this versus other attempts is that the GlowCap seems to be easy to get and use.

There are other products offering similar technology, however GlowCaps have a unique advantage of pulling through on compliance, even if the patient chooses to ignore the reminders. Updates and communications may be sent to caregivers and physicians, and pharmacies can be notified for renewals. One Amazon reviewer noted, "It's an ultra helpful pill bottle and a net based wifi system for your medication."

Applications for this technology are obvious. Though it won't be a silver bullet for compliance, and adoption will certainly be slow - usage may increase if managed care benefits are found. For conditions heavily reliant on a caregiver, such as Alzheimer's disease, or where a parent is relying on a child to take medications for chronic conditions - it is a perfect fit. But it also makes sense for conditions where patients tend to stop taking meds when they feel non-symptomatic (Cholesterol), or where may have challenges (depression). Finally, being able to track and prove adherence to oral medications may provide a lift in the realm of oncology, where physicians can be skeptical of non-IV treatments.

This may be a slow burn, but with the increased emphasis on electronic medical records and performance based managed care - it's a trend worth watching.