The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7356 p5
2 July 2005

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Device alerts patients to take their medicines

Pharmacists in Staffordshire are taking part in a project designed to help older or vulnerable people remember to take their medicines with the aid of an electronic device.

Following identification of a patient who needs help with their medicines, a pharmacist visits the patient in their home to assess the situation. If normal compliance aids and visual prompts are not sufficient to help the patient the pharmacist may recommend that an electronic reminder device be installed in the patient’s home.

The device is programmed to give an audio and visual prompt at times when medicines should be taken, and the patient is required to acknowledge this prompt by pressing a button on the device. If the patient does not acknowledge the prompt they are telephoned by a trained member of staff from a central call centre who establishes any problems the patient may be having with their medicines and refers them on as appropriate.

The scheme, which is supported by the Medicines Partnership, has been developed by a collaboration of health care, social services and housing providers in Staffordshire, together with the technology provider Tunstall.

Results from the US have shown that this system increases patients’ independence and helps them to stay in their own homes for longer, although this is the first time that the device has been piloted in the UK.