Age Tech

Creating empathy through technology for the aging population 

Empathy is not just a “nice to have” in healthcare—it has been shown to have strong positive effects on health outcomes. Additional research shows that empathy and compassion are associated with: 

• Better adherence to medications 
• Decreased malpractice cases 
• Fewer healthcare mistakes 
• Increased patient satisfaction 

Empathy is especially important when caring for the aging population. As people grow older, their needs increase. They become increasingly vulnerable, and it can be difficult or uncomfortable to explain their needs. They may even hesitate to explain symptoms to avoid being a burden on caregivers.  

As technology continues to grow as an option to provide care to the elderly, it’s important to foster empathy through the screen. Creating empathy through technology is certainly challenging, but for age-tech to succeed, it’s essential.  

How to create empathy through technology for the aging population

1. Provide telehealth options connecting older patients to their healthcare providers. 

Although it is harder to give patients the sense of personal care through technology, there’s also a unique opportunity for them to be more connected to their healthcare providers than ever before. Technology can maintain and improve the relationship between clinicians and patients. 

Where patients did not have easy access to their healthcare providers in the past, now, they have healthcare technology to foster connectedness. Real-time chats allow patients to ask their doctor a question, ask for a refill, or so many more, all from the comfort of their own home.  

Virtual appointments and consultations, portals giving access to health data, and group chats for sharing information all create connections. 

2. Think about empathy beyond the typical doctor-patient relationship. 

Although empathy through technology takes extra effort and thought, if done correctly, it may actually allow providers to be more empathetic. Technology transforms the typical doctor-patient relationship. 

“We need to make ourselves available to them in ways that are perhaps sometimes not always possible when we're in the hospital setting,” says Kathy Sienko, OBE, the chief nurse at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. “Giving them access to information, incorporating online information and other sources of data into the way that we deliver care, in ways that we have not been able to do before, or haven't been motivated to do before.” 

Technology allows providers to go beyond the typical patient-doctor relationship. Sharing increased information during times of illness, uncertainty, and aging is a powerful way for doctors to demonstrate empathy for patients and their families. 

3. Expand your perception of empathy. 

Empathy is usually thought of as an understanding between two people, but empathy can go far beyond doctor and patient. An organization can embody empathy and be embedded within the patient experience. 

Empathy can be as simple as designing apps that ease the stress of booking appointments. The “intersection between empathy and innovation and how they should be deeply intertwined to be maximally effective,” says Adrienne Boissy, MD, MA, chief experience officer at the Cleveland Clinic. “The experience of care, what does that need to feel like and how can we redesign things to make people feel cared about, and valued, and known, by an organization?”  

Especially when it comes to senior populations, who might have more trouble accessing technology, the user experience is a priority. Technology can drastically improve their healthcare. However, if it’s too challenging to use, then that care experience is not empathetic and ineffective.  

4. Empathy for clinicians helps patients. 

The same healthcare tools that can be used for elderly patients can also be used to benefit clinicians. This is especially important, because clinician burnout is on the rise. Caregiver burnout leads to mental and physical health problems. 

“In the face of the unprecedented challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation must acknowledge the toll that the crisis is taking on the well-being of clinicians,” writes the National Academy of Medicine. “Health care workers need support as they navigate the difficult challenges of the current moment and throughout the long-term effects of COVID-19 on clinicians.” 

Technology can provide empathetic support for clinicians. For example, virtual communication allows clinicians to connect with others in their field experiencing the same struggles. Wellness tools, such as Headspace, benefit the mental health of clinicians.  

Also, allowing clinicians to provide telehealth helps them avoid burnout by saving them time. On average, physicians who use telemedicine reduce visit times by about 20 percent. This gives them more time throughout their day and alleviates stress. 

When clinicians are less burned out, they are better able to offer empathetic care and drive positive health outcomes for the elderly population. 

Technology improves older patient and clinician health

Rather than thinking of how challenging it is to be empathetic via technology, think of virtual healthcare as the ultimate tool. Our Ōmcare Home Health Hub® can help you provide an empathetic healthcare experience for the older generation. It allows an easy way to ensure patients are adherent with their medications and speak with providers in real-time. Reach out to Ōmcare to learn more today! 

by Ōmcare

Virtual healthcare: The ultimate guide for 2022

As times are changing, so is the field of medicine. 71% of healthcare providers are already using virtual healthcare tools in their practice. Whether your practice is currently providing virtual medicine, or just stepping into the space, we’ll explore how to develop a stronger telehealth strategy for 2022 and beyond.   

What is virtual healthcare?

Virtual health, also known as telehealth, are all-encompassing terms that include a range of technologies and services to provide remote medical care. It means interactions between doctors and patients become virtual. And although it’s often thought of as just video visits, virtual care includes messaging, apps, and phone calls.   

To access virtual healthcare, patients generally need internet and a smartphone or laptop. In some instances, patients might need advanced technology, such as a blood pressure monitor. 

Virtual healthcare can be used for at-home diagnosis, patient aftercare, or simple personal monitoring.  

Skeptical of telehealth? Don’t be. 82% of patients say that a virtual appointment is as effective as an in-person visit. 

The importance of telehealth in 2022

 Telehealth gained rapid popularity in 2020 due to COVID-19. Especially for high-risk patients who needed ongoing care, telehealth was the best option as it limited potentially life-threatening exposures to COVID-19.  

Going into 2021, online healthcare became the new normal. 64% of U.S. households used telehealth in 2021. Now, many patients actually prefer telehealth. And there are a variety of reasons including:  

• It can decrease healthcare costs  
• It saves travel time 
• It increases accessibility in rural areas 

Out of all the reasons to choose telemedicine, convenience and infection control are the top reasons patients choose telehealth.  

Virtual healthcare provides benefits for your practice, too. It saves time for healthcare workers, allowing more patients to be seen and treated. Plus, it limits occupational exposure to COVID-19.   

Although virtual healthcare became popular due to COVID-19, 43% of Americans want to continue using telehealth even after the pandemic. 

3 types of telemedicine

While telehealth is an all-encompassing term, telemedicine is more specific. Telemedicine is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients using technology. There are 3 types of telemedicine: 

Store and forward

The data and signals are received from the patient and passed straight to a system. Asynchronous capture and transmission of images, videos, and sound—for example, patient sends a photo of their wound. 

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) 

This is using technology so patients can automatically monitor activity and pass on data to healthcare professionals. For example, monitoring and transmission of vital signs, including blood pressure or glucose levels. 

Interactive patient care (IPC)

This includes virtual consultations and one-to-one live chats, phone calls, or video chats. It’s any communication between the healthcare provider and their patient.  

Keeping the meanings of telehealth and telemedicine in mind, keep reading to learn how to navigate telemedicine in 2022 and beyond to achieve success! 

Virtual healthcare guide for 2022

How to get started

If your practice is just starting to enter the realm of telemedicine, don’t feel pressured to jump all-in to telemedicine right away. We’ll be outlining more advanced tips throughout the article, but if your practice is just getting started, here are some tips:  

• Utilizing free trials or pilots helps you try different options before committing.  
• Check insurance coverage before making big investments. 

And most importantly: Start off modestly. To see if telemedicine is right for your practice, try: 

• At-home STI testing 
• At-home food sensitivity tests

Pick the right platform or app

Telemedicine is reliant on technology, but you have options. There are plenty of healthcare apps on the market. Choose the right one for your practice.  

It makes sense to have a specific platform or app for your practice, because generic platforms like Google Hangout and FaceTime could lead to costly HIPAA breaches. In 2020, HIPAA regulations were loosened to include these generic platforms, but they’re not the best choice. It’s also anticipated that these loosened restrictions won’t stick around forever. So, it makes sense to invest in a HIPAA compliant platform now.  

Consider using apps specifically made for telehealth, for example: Teladoc, MDBox, or AmWell. When looking for a telehealth app, look for apps that offer:  

• Easy/seamless integration 
• User-friendly, intuitive design 
• Specialty care solution 
• Customization  
• Data analytics 

Protect patient information

Even when you have a secure app, patient privacy is still a top priority.  

 To protect patient information, virtual healthcare providers need to know local, state, and federal telehealth regulations, and abide by them. Since these laws are constantly changing rapidly, use resources such as the Center for Connected Health Policy to stay on top of regulations. You can also provide extra privacy training for telemedicine providers. 

When it comes to telemedicine, patients need to be knowledgeable. Inform patients of the risks that come from using telehealth. Also, teach patients their own responsibilities when it comes to protecting their data. 

Know when it is most appropriate to use telemedicine

Here are examples in which telemedicine is often used: 

• Chronic diseases 
• Primary care 
• Surgical care - pre- and post-appointments 

• Mental health 
• Pharmacy services 
• At-home testing (STIs, genetic testing, hormone testing, and more) 

 But telemedicine is not the answer in every case. For example, it’s not an appropriate option when a hands-on physical examination is crucial to deliver the best care.   

An area where telemedicine isn’t often used, but can be leveraged, is addiction recovery. Adoption of telehealth technologies in substance abuse care was found to be less than 1%. Telemedicine could especially help reach patients in rural areas that don’t always have the same access to care or support.  

Providers need to develop a “webside” manner

Just because you’re not seeing your patients in-person, doesn’t mean acting with care isn’t necessary. Although it’s harder to be personable in virtual medicine appointments, it’s still a necessity. To develop a “webside” manner: 

• Maintain consistent eye contact with the camera 
• Set up quality lighting 
• Provide services in a professional environment, dressed professionally 
• Reduce background noises & visual distractions   

 Telemedicine can be just as effective as in-person visits, as long as telemedicine providers provide empathy to their patients and cater to their needs, just as they would in-person.  

Doctors need to engage the patient as a partner

When it comes to telemedicine, doctors need to be able to engage the patient as if they were a partner. The patient is no longer passive. For example, healthcare providers may need to talk patients through how to use healthcare tools. They may also need to explain how to set the camera up so the doctor can see what they need to see.  

Virtual visits should be seen as a collaboration between both parties more than ever before. For success, patients need to feel comfortable, especially because they are often allowing the provider into their home.   

Focus on strengthening patient access 

Not all patients have access to telemedicine. To create a great telehealth practice, focus on strengthening patient access. 

For patients lacking technology, suggest sources such as the Lifeline program, which provides low-income individuals with free or low-cost devices. 

Be aware of telehealth disparities, and don’t assume that certain people won’t accept telehealth services. This unconscious bias affects how many people can take advantage of telehealth. 28% of patients don’t choose telehealth services for their kids, simply because it was never offered to them.  

Continue addressing other telehealth obstacles. For example, when you face a language barrier, use a translator in 3-way video calls.  

Ōmcare can help improve your virtual healthcare 

Telehealth promises better convenience, access, and affordability. By providing new approaches to delivering care, telehealth can ultimately help patients around the world maintain a healthier lifestyle.  

While there is much promise in telehealth, it’s important to prioritize best practices of virtual healthcare. Our Ōmcare Home Health Hub® ensures patients can get their medicine and speak with their providers, pharmacist, or caregivers in real-time. 

If your practice is looking for a tool to help implement or improve your virtual healthcare strategy, reach out to Ōmcare for more information. 

by Ōmcare

4 telling medication adherence statistics (updated for 2022)

Around 66% of people in the United States take at least one prescription medication. The average number of prescriptions taken is 4 per person, but that number rises significantly for those treating chronic conditions. Regardless, medication is one of the largest expenditures in the healthcare industry to date (over 10% of all healthcare spending).

With patients shelling out money, one might assume people manage their medications well and always take them on time and in the right dose. However, this is certainly not the case.

It's estimated that just half of the people who are on regular medication take the proper doses at the proper times. Taking medications appropriately is called medication adherence, and it's a critical detail that can gauge the success of treatment. It is a metric that doctors and healthcare plans are always striving to improve.

Throughout the pandemic, there have been a lot of shifts in the healthcare industry—from embracing more telemedicine to making changes to care plans due to limited access to in-person appointments. Because of this, we've discovered some astounding medication adherence statistics and how it's changed or will change, in the coming years.

https://youtu.be/Qh84l557-D0

4 Telling Medication Adherence Statistics

The top reason for medication non-adherence is forgetfulness

In the last decade, Express Scripts ran a multi-year pilot study to figure out the main cause of medication non-adherence. They went into the study thinking cost and accessibility would be the biggest reason: they were wrong.

They found that of the 600,000 patients, 39% simply forgot to take their meds, 20% did not renew scripts on time, and 10% put off refills resulting in multiple missed doses.

Over 125,000 premature deaths per year caused by medication non-adherence

In 2014, non-adherence was the 6th most common cause of premature death in America. That's an incredible, and expensive, statistic. These preventable hospital visits, stays, and deaths cost the healthcare industry hundreds of billions of dollars per year.

Over half of patients with mental illness are non-adherent

Statistics show that between 40 and 60% of patients who are mentally ill have poor medication adherence and rarely take their medications on time, if at all. Uncontrolled mental illness lead to the climbing rates of unemployment, homelessness, and suicide which sits in the top 10 causes of death in the United States.

Better adherence could help prevent 89,000 hypertensive deaths

Hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke which continue to sit in the leading causes of death among American adults. Treatment for hypertension includes lifestyle changes like diet and exercise but also critical medications that help lower blood pressure. Nearly 50% of Americans have improperly medicated hypertension. This highly preventative and curable disease accounts for $106 billion of added costs each year.

Tips for improving medication adherence

Improving medication adherence not only saves lives but saves money, time, and suffering caused by missed doses. Luckily there are some ways to improve medication adherence on both the patients’ side and the providers.

Pharmacy subscriptions

Procrastinating on refills was one of the leading reasons for poor medication adherence, and one way to solve that issue is by having pharmacy subscriptions and delivery. No longer do people have to worry about calling in their script or heading to the pharmacy to pick it up. Auto-refills and home deliveries can improve that issue significantly. Even Amazon offers pharmacy subscriptions now for ease of use.

Mobile app reminders

More and more providers are getting on board with mobile applications that allow patients to manage care, appointments, and prescriptions all from their device. A mobile app keeps information secure but also allows for direct communication. Patients can send or update their prescription right from their phone and send that information directly to the pharmacy in minutes.

Live consultations

Pharmacists and providers should continue to offer, and encourage, live consultations with their patients. Patients may feel ashamed of going in and speaking to a pharmacist about their meds or chronic conditions, so offering it online from the comfort of their own home might help alleviate that desire to procrastinate or avoid speaking to someone.

Text/call reminders

Seniors account for one of the greatest percentages of prescription use and non-adherence. But many of them do not have smartphones. Call and text reminders continue to be a highly effective method of reminding adults to fill or take their meds.

Automatic pill dispensers

The physical management of medications is another way to help improve medication adherence. Daily pill organizers can help, but automatic pill dispensers are the way of the future. They ensure patients have an alarm and a second point of reminder. Then the meds are dispensed to them, accurately and on time.

With the Ōmcare Home Health Hub®, we ensure patients not only get their meds dispensed in the correct dose at the correct time, but they can actually speak with their providers, pharmacist or caregiver in real-time to get advice, discuss their care plan, and receive the support they need to increase adherence.

We believe improving medication adherence is one of the #1 ways to save lives, and we are happy to play a part in that change. If your clinic also wants to commit to improving medication adherence in the form of automatic pill management, reach out to Ōmcare today.

by Ōmcare

Telehealth vs telemedicine: What's the difference?

Despite often being thought of as the same thing, telehealth and telemedicine actually mean incredibly different things. Often used interchangeably, they should not be confused with one another.

The confusion is to be expected, especially with both terms being thrown around more than ever now. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the world of telehealth and telemedicine with more places making the shift to provide such services amidst lockdowns and overloaded hospitals. 

The CDC stated that very early on in the pandemic, in-person healthcare visits declined by nearly 60% across the United States. But telehealth visits rightfully increased, accounting for nearly 30% of all care provided.

This wasn’t always easy, however. Prior to the pandemic, physicians were often required to have special licensure to provide telehealth care to patients. However, currently, 18 states have waived such requirements. It’s not clear if this is temporary or not, but there is a lot of push to make virtual care a vehicle that sticks around long after the pandemic.

The ability to make such shifts has been an amazing way to ensure patients across the country get the care they need. These may include therapy, prescription reviews, or consultations. 

 So today, we're going to clearly define these terms, explain why each is so important in healthcare, and discuss why we believe it’s here to stay.

What is telehealth and why does it matter?

The use of the internet has changed our lives in so many ways—both positive and negative. But the pairing of technology and healthcare has completely transformed how we can deliver information and care to patients.

Telehealth is a revolutionary way to access healthcare services remotely and manage your medical needs. With the use of digital information, computers, or mobile devices, one can gain quick and easy access to information and applications that help provide better support with treatments and healthcare management.

The benefits of telehealth include:

• Making self-management easier and more convenient
• Improving communication between patients and their care team
• Making healthcare services more accessible to patients living far away or who have limited mobility
• Providing easier access to healthcare specialists

While telemedicine is centered around patient care, telehealth focuses on using technology to better manage health, access data, and track care plans. Here are some great examples of how telehealth can be used in real life.

The added convenience of virtual doctor appointments.

Doctors can provide online consultations for their patients. This is especially helpful if you need a last-minute appointment or live far away from the doctor's office.

These virtual visits allow doctors and patients to access information by video conferencing with one another either through an app on your phone or computer that allows for live video chat.

Things like Doctors on Demand can allow for quick virtual visits as opposed to making a trip to urgent care. People can virtually connect with a doctor for things like rashes, common viral infections, prescriptions refills, or other minor concerns.

This can allow the doctor to assess a patient's needs quickly, send an antibiotic to the pharmacy, and save a ton of time for patients and providers alike.

Remote health monitoring for patients with chronic conditions.

Patients with chronic conditions can now use technology to monitor vital signs like blood pressure, blood sugar levels, heart rate, respiratory rates, and oxygen levels from the comfort of their own homes.

This is a great way to help individuals avoid unnecessary emergency room visits or procedures that could have been avoided if care had been managed appropriately.

Telehealth is an excellent way for patients and doctors to interact using technology to manage a medical condition or monitor a chronic disease at home, where the patient feels most comfortable. It also allows patients and physicians to have the most up-to-date and accurate data to adjust treatments accurately and quickly.

Patients modernize their care with portals and apps.

Patients can download apps or use online portals to access their own health records, schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, and communicate with their healthcare providers.

These are great tools that allow patients to manage their medical information on the go from any location, at any time. In some cases, this also means their data is centralized so it’s easier to access and send to other providers for second opinions or ongoing healthcare maintenance.

More convenient correspondence between physicians.

Patients can log in to a patient portal and message their physician's office with questions or concerns. This allows for more timely communication between patients and providers.

In addition, doctors need to speak with other doctors often to discuss a patient's case, health management, and other factors. Telehealth allows them to quickly and securely share and access sensitive patient information in a secure platform and respond in real-time.

How does telemedicine differ from telehealth?

Telemedicine is a subset of telehealth that refers solely to providing healthcare services across long distances. For example, people living in remote areas or those not able to easily leave their homes due to mobility issues. 

It still involves using technology like video chat or wireless communication to provide healthcare services from a healthcare provider, but with more emphasis on remote areas that do not have access to in-person healthcare. Particularly, access to specialties and other complex health care. 

The benefits of telehealth and telemedicine are great. Thanks to technology, it has never been easier to monitor your health or receive quality care, all from the comfort of your own home or mobile device.

Ōmcare plays a big part in both telehealth and telemedicine. Our at-home device allows quick access to providers and monitored and secure disbursement of medications without the need to drive to a pharmacy or manage individual prescriptions.

If this sounds like something you need, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and get started on improving your or your loved one's personal healthcare management.

by Ōmcare

4 best automatic pill dispensers for seniors at home

Are you having trouble getting mom to take her meds? Don’t fret—there’s a device that can help.

Automatic pill dispensing devices are well-designed to help those with chronic diseases where successful medication management is often the key to better health. In addition, it helps those who find it difficult to remember to take their pills on time. In this post, we will discuss the best automatic pill dispensers available.

Things to consider when choosing an automatic pill dispenser

Before you purchase a new pill dispenser, there are a few key things to consider that could sway your decision. Let’s walk through different factors to help you decide which product is best for you. 

• Medication compliance

A pill dispenser will always hold enough pills for their regular doses, so they’ll never run out.

• Size & design

It's important that your automatic pill dispenser fits nicely on a nightstand or bathroom countertop. You want it to be accessible and easy to use.

• Programming

Easy-to-use pill dispensers are vital to getting the most benefits out of the device. They shouldn’t require extra programming or tech-savvy users.

• Features & capabilities

Many of these devices come with alarms, timers, lockable compartments, and even tracking abilities.

• Price

The price range for pill dispensers varies depending on the brand and features you choose to include in your machine. Be sure that it's within your budget before making a purchase.

• Product reviews & ratings

Don't just go with our list, research other trusted sites to find out what others think about each product.

The best automatic pill dispensers

There are many types of pill dispensers that can help those who take a lot of medications every day, making management difficult. These devices range in price, complexity, and security features but all come in incredibly handy for medication management and improving medication adherence. Here's a list of the best automatic pill dispensers for seniors.

MedCenter System With Alarm

Despite being less high-tech than some of the other medication dispensers out there, the MedCenter 31-Day pill organizer and reminder system gets the job done. It's incredibly user-friendly, making it a simple solution for seniors living alone who need some assistance managing and remembering their meds without the fuss of technology.

The MedCenter System allows them to put a whole month's worth of medication into the system, pull out each day's pills, then have a recurring alarm (or multiple alarms) for taking their pills every day at the appropriate time. The one downside is that it has to be manually refilled every month. However, it still saves time, energy, and the pain of having to organize pills every single day.

e-Pill MedSmart Plus

The e-Pill MedSmart Voice Pro is a step up from the MedCenter in that it has added security measures with a lock and key to keep out anyone who shouldn't have access to the meds. Also, it can be loaded by a caregiver, and the patient can only have access to pills at their appropriate time. It is Bluetooth enabled and can connect to a mobile app to get easy reminders, alarms and track medications throughout the month.

This pill organizer and dispenser is ideal for seniors who want to live more independently and those with caretakers who want an easy solution to help their patient manage their medication on their own. It's also perfect for those who are hard of hearing as it can have up to 9 alarms throughout the day, paired with a loud voice notification of "it's time to take your medication" and blinking lights. 

Pria Automatic Pill Dispenser

Pria is a combination medication assistant, video chat, and automated medication dispenser in one. It holds up to 28 days of pills (with 10 in each section) or two weeks if you have morning and night doses. The device gets loaded each month with all the necessary daily pills, then alarms and notifications can be set up and paired with a mobile app.

The application allows family members, caregivers, and physicians to gain access, see that medications were taken, and make necessary adjustments based on results. Users can also get support via the built-in video chat system, and physicians can also reach out via the call feature.

Ōmcare's Home Health Hub®

Ōmcare's Home Health Hub® has combined the convenience of prepackaged medication with immediate access to healthcare providers into one simple package. Not only is medication prepackaged in easy-to-load packs, but they are shipped right to the user's door when needed.

The video feature on our Home Health Hub allows for the user, family members, caregivers, and physicians to check in regularly to allow treatment, medication adjustments, and maintain a virtual relationship. Video check-ins can help ensure that medication is being taken and provide family members with peace of mind.

There are a lot of benefits to automatic pill dispensers. Although they can be expensive upfront, you get what you pay for when it comes to quality and safety. 

Keep your loved ones safe, on track, and help manage their chronic illnesses with ease. Reach out to Ōmcare to get started on the next level of medication management with a user-friendly automated pill dispenser.

by Ōmcare

6+ telling benefits of medication synchronization (for patients)

Medication synchronization helps ensure someone doesn’t miss a dose. But it goes even beyond that; there are many advantages to medication synchronization in addition to limiting trips to the pharmacy. Today, we'll talk about what med sync is, its telling benefits, and why it's so important.

What is medication synchronization and how does it work?

Simply put, medication synchronization is the process of filling prescriptions and collecting them on a single day each month instead of having prescriptions filled as soon as they're written or collected from the pharmacy as patients need them throughout the month. 

Instead, all prescriptions are filed one time each month, drastically reducing the number of trips to the pharmacy and added convenience for people taking multiple prescriptions. 

When prescriptions are filled and picked up on one day each month (as opposed to when they're refilled), it creates peace of mind for everyone involved. For patients, it means they never have to worry about running out of a needed medication because they can't keep track of all the varying refill dates. 

By syncing up 28-day, 30-day, 60-day, and even 90-day scripts, there's a consistent cycle of refills happening at all times. This benefits the pharmacy because they have fewer prescriptions to fill all the time (and eliminates people forgetting to pick things up) which can lead to better adherence data for them as well. 

What kinds of medications can be synched?

Patients who take multiple medications for any condition can benefit from medication synchronization. Even patients who take a single prescription that requires regular refills will see benefits, as it reduces trips to the pharmacy and eliminates any concerns about running out of medications due to timing issues.

How does it work?

Pharmacists play a big part in managing prescription syncing. They take the time to review patient prescription lists and accurately formulate a plan to get them synced up. The pharmacist then does a few partial fills to sync up all meds to a single date. Often, they'll also schedule monthly or bi-monthly follow-ups for patients to discuss the medications and ensure everything is on the right track.

What are the benefits of medication synchronization?

The obvious benefit is that patients don't have to go to the pharmacy every month, which reduces stress and eliminates a potential source of anxiety. However, because it's such a big part of what pharmacists are trained to do, medication synchronization also ensures accuracy and attention to detail. It also improves patient health by ensuring they're getting the proper medications at the right time.

Medication synchronization is just another way that pharmacists are making prescription management easier for patients everywhere. 

All the benefits of medication synchronization include:

• Eliminating unnecessary repeat trips to the pharmacy each month, which saves time and money.

• Minimizing confusing or conflicting refill dates.

• Reducing delayed or missed doses due to missed refills.

• Pharmacists have more insight and control into patients' medication lists, preventing contraindications, duplicate drugs, and other issues.

• Ensuring the right drugs work with the others and that the proper treatment plans are given.

• Improving medication adherence

• Giving caregivers peace of mind

Medication synchronization is not a new concept. Still, it wasn't until recently that pharmacies started making medication synchronization standard practice.

The average person visits a pharmacy 35 times per year but only sees their doctor four times. By syncing up scripts, pharmacists can cut this number by more than half and allow more convenient prescription refills. Many companies offer mailed prescriptions and automated subscriptions and can help medication adherence rates skyrocket.

Patients don't have to worry about going back and forth between pharmacies anymore—pharmacists make sure they're synchronized, so doctors' instructions are followed as intended. Nor do they have to wait for a pharmacist to reach out for medication refill reminders. And that's a win-win for everyone.

For even more automated prescription management and administration, check out Ōmcare's Home Health Hub. The Home Health Hub offers easy, fast medication management and administration, plus free med delivery in monthly rolls that bundle all necessary medications into one convenient package. Reach out to learn more!

by Ōmcare

Automatic pill dispensers for people with Alzheimer's: simple options for 2021

Remembering to take medication can be difficult for anyone, but especially those in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that affects mental function and memory, making it difficult to do daily tasks, including taking medication.

However, there are some simple ways to ensure people with Alzheimer's take their medication on time, every time, without constant supervision.

Automatic pill dispenser for Alzheimer's patients

Automatic pill dispensers are one of the greatest ways to improve medication adherence, prevent double dosing, and ensure you or your loved ones take the right pills, every time. Pill dispensers have come a long way from the 7-day pill organizer box, and now come with all various features that make it as easy and automated as possible.

Of course, someone with Alzheimer's is not always going to be able to manage their own medication, even with an automatic dispenser. But there are a few simple options to choose from depending on their level of cognition and independence. Below are good options if you are looking to purchase an automatic pill dispenser.

Easy-to-use pill dispenser

Some dispensers require a somewhat tech-savvy end-user. However, there are a few pill dispensers that are very user-friendly and allow people in the early stages of Alzheimer's to remain independent by managing their own meds.

MedCenter Monthly Pill Organizer

Although this isn't exactly an automated pill dispenser, this simple alarm clock pillbox is super easy to use and is a more advanced pill organizer. It requires very little technical knowledge and can be easily loaded every month by a helper or home health aide, and then alarms will ring each day to alert the user to take their meds.

Alarmed pill dispenser

For a more advanced option, this alarm pill dispenser is highly user-friendly and signals a loud alarm or flashing light to alert users with both memory and hearing impairment that it's time to take their medications. MedReady Automatic Pill Dispenser

The MedReady automated pill dispenser is a simple design but works just as effectively as some of the high-tech versions. The basic design allows users to load 28 days of pills in the locked case, holding up to 5 large pills or 10 smaller pills. In addition, the device can have up to 4 alarms set per day, and they can run for 30, 45, 60, or 250 minutes to allow users ample time to hear and respond to the alarm. It also comes with a rechargeable battery so that it can be taken on the go.

Also, their upgraded versions include a red light for the hearing impaired, a land-line connection to alert emergency contacts of a missed dose or a wireless plan that alerts the MedReady website of missed doses and other alerts.

High-capacity pill dispenser

Hero Automatic Pill Dispenser

The Hero automatic pill dispenser can hold up to 90 days worth of medication and also includes all of the benefits mentioned above, such as ease-of-use and alarm capabilities, but with more technology and support included in the monthly package. It will also notify caregivers or emergency contacts if a dose is not taken and the alarm is never turned off. This is essential to providing proper medication dispensing, which is also tracked in its automated medication adherence tracking.

Smart pill dispenser with locking capabilities + more

Ōmcare Home Health Hub

Last but definitely not least, the Ōmcare Home Health Hub offers all of the above plus telehealth capabilities. Not only can people with Alzheimer's ensure they take their meds on time thanks to alerts, the automatic pill dispensing, automated medication delivery, and ease-of-use, but they can converse with their healthcare support team right from the device.

They can also connect with family members and other caregivers, which can be used as an additional way to improve medication adherence, particularly with those with memory issues. Speaking to a nurse every time they take their meds or review their meds each month creates a solid feedback loop to keep medication on track and prevent dangerous double dosing.

Overall, Ōmcare has the best automatic pill dispenser for Alzheimer's patients if you're looking for a solid, fail-proof solution. To find out what we can do for you or your patients today, contact us here.

by Ōmcare