Systems and methods for improving medication adherence
OwnerMichael S. Singer, Murat V. Kalayogluinventors
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Abstract
The invention relates to simple yet effective systems and methods for inducing patients to take their medications, without the need for outside prompting, and without the need for electronic medication dispensers. Instead, the new systems and methods use simple medication dispensers with unique markings to motivate the patients to take their medications based on voluntary actions to obtain a reward, e.g., an intermittent reward. In addition, the new systems and methods allow the collection of user data, all volunteered by the users.
Claims50
A medication dispenser comprising
- a container designed to contain one or more medication doses and comprising a first set of markings;
- a movable component comprising a second set of markings and configured to move in relationship to the container to enable a user to align one or more markings of the first set of markings with one or more markings of the second set of markings and to enable the user to derive a reward code from one or more of the markings;
- and
- a dispenser identification code associated with the dispenser.
A medication dispenser comprising
- a container;
- a movable component comprising one or more markings and configured to move in relation to the container to dispense a medication dose and to display the one or more markings after the dose has been dispensed to enable a user to derive a reward code from one or more of the markings;
- and
- a dispenser identification code associated with the dispenser.
A method for improving medication adherence by a user, the method comprising
- obtaining a dispenser identification code via a communications network to identify a medication dispenser comprising a marking or series of markings from which a reward code can be derived;
- providing instructions to the user via the communications network to observe the identified medication dispenser and determine a reward code;
- obtaining the reward code from the user via the communications network;
- and
- providing the user with a reward report, wherein the reward report indicates whether a reward will be awarded, and if so, a reward value.
A method for improving medication adherence by a user, the method comprising
- identifying a medication user;
- obtaining the user's medication compliance history for a specific medication;
- determining whether a reward should be provided for a given compliance event as a function of the user's medication compliance history;
- if a reward is to be provided, determining a reward value;
- and
- providing the user with a reward report indicating whether a reward will be awarded and if so, the reward value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.