Gamification systems and methods for improved healthcare outcomes

A computerized methodology for recording taking or dispensing of pharmaceuticals using electronic signals from a plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages and monitored contextual information, where said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages include a sensor and a transmitter, wherein said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages have a real-time communications link with at least one compute device operating said methodology, and wherein said methodology comprises the steps:

• i. loading, by said at least one compute device, a prescription pharmaceutical protocol onto at least one compute device, said protocol having an indication of pharmaceutical dosage and related timing for such dosage;
• ii. commencing, by said at least one compute device, a timeline for compliance monitoring for said pharmaceutical protocol;
• iii. monitoring, by said at least one compute device, date and time as compared to said pharmaceutical protocol;
• iv. detecting, by the sensor of the at least one of said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages, an application, dispensing, injection, ingestion, or other indication of medication taking;
• v. transmitting, by the transmitter of the at least one of said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages, a signal associated with said detecting;
• vi. receiving, by said at least one compute device, a transmission from at least one of said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages of said signal associated with said detecting;
• vii. recording, by said at least one compute device, said application, dispensing, injection, ingestion, or other medication taking occurrence including the date and time of such occurrence;
• viii. calculating, by said at least one compute device, a current score based upon at least one of:
• said application, dispensing, injection, ingestion, or other medication taking occurrence;
• a date and time of said application, dispensing, injection, ingestion, or other medication taking occurrence;
• a dosage amount of said application, dispensing, injection, ingestion, or other medication taking occurrence;
• prior system messages;
• dates, times, sources, and frequency of said prior system messages;
• and historical and current scores of connected third parties;
• ix. accumulating, by said at least one compute device, said current score with prior calculated scores;
• x. transmitting, by said at least one compute device, a signal relating to said current score and accumulated score to at least said at least one user interface device to report at least one of occurrence of said application, dispensing, injection, ingestion, or other medication taking occurrence, and achieving of said calculated score;
• xi. if a time period lapses without receiving a transmission from said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages of a possible application, dispensing, injection, ingestion, or other medication taking occurrence, then identifying, by said at least one compute device, a possible non-compliance event;
• xii. recording, by said at least one compute device, said possible non-compliance event;
• and
• xiii. transmitting, by said at least one compute device., a signal to said at least one user interface device of said possible non-compliance event.

An automated system for recording taking or dispensing of pharmaceuticals using electronic signals from a plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages and monitored contextual information, said system comprising:

• a. a plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages, each said smart pharmaceutical package associated with a patient, and sensing when a pharmaceutical has been dispensed or taken, and transmitting a signal upon the occurrence of each dispensing or taking event;
• b. at least one compute device storing a prescription pharmaceutical protocol and having a communications link with said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages;
• and
• c. a plurality of communications devices, with each such communications device being associated with one of a first patient prescribed said pharmaceutical, or a team member, wherein said team member is at least one of a fellow patient, a doctor, a family member, a healthcare provider, or other support person associated with said first patient, with each of said plurality of communications devices having a communications link with at least one of each other communications devices and said at least one compute device;
• wherein said at least one compute device (1) monitors current date and time;
• (2) receives said signal from said plurality of smart pharmaceutical packages associated with said first patient;
• (3) calculates a current score using a scoring protocol based upon at least one of:
• said dispensing or taking event, a date and time of said dispensing or taking event, a dosage amount of said dispensing or taking event, compliance of said dispensing or taking event with said prescription protocol, prior system messages, dates, times, sources, and frequency of said prior system messages, and historical and current scores of said team members;
• wherein, when said at least one compute device does not receive a signal from a smart package associated with said first patient within a first designated time window, said at least one compute device transmits an alert signal to at least one of said plurality of communications devices according to an alerting protocol based upon at least one of:
• said prescription protocol, designated time windows missed, elapsed time from a prescribed taking period, compliance history of said first patient, prior alerting messages, sources of said prior alerting messages, dates, times, and frequency of said prior alerting messages, historical and current scores of said team members, and historical and current scores of at least one competing team;
• further wherein, when said at least one compute device does not receive a signal from a smart package associated with said first patient within a subsequent-time window, said at least one compute device revises said alerting protocol based upon at least one of:
• said prescription protocol, subsequent-time windows missed, elapsed time from a prescribed taking period, compliance history of said first patient, prior alerting messages, sources of said prior alerting messages, dates, times, and frequency of said prior alerting messages, historical and current scores of said team members, and historical and current scores of at least one competing team;
• and transmits a revised alerting signal based upon said revised alerting protocol to at least one of said plurality of communications devices.