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mHealth has potential to improve patient compliance with medication
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NEW ORLEANS — Smart technology is finding its way into the ophthalmology space, with potential to help patients comply with their medication regimens, according to a speaker here.
Twenty percent to 30% of medication prescriptions are never filled, and 50% of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed, “as we all know all too well,” Rohit Krishna, MD, told colleagues at Glaucoma Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Rohit Krishna
“This is a $290 billion a year problem in the U.S.,” he said. “If we can apply some technology to this, we might be able to affect this problem by as much as 40%.”
mHealth, which is the health care delivery method that uses mobile technology, is far reaching, inexpensive and easy to use, considering 87% of the U.S. population uses a mobile phone, he said.
Telehealth software apps, personalized alerts, live video interfaces, medication reminder apps and memos as texts are all ways to reach patients on long-term regimens.
Even mobile games and rewards, called gamification, are under development with patient health in mind.
“We’re in the midst of a digital revolution,” Krishna said, who also expects there to be an increase in remote reporting directly into electronic health records.
“We can definitely affect compliance and adherence,” he said, with a resultant significant cost savings and social impact. – by Patricia Nale, ELS
Reference:
Krishna R. Sure your patients are using the drops: how technology can improve compliance. Presented at: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting; May 6-10, 2016. New Orleans, Louisiana.
Disclosure: Krishna reports he is an investor in Cloud Nine Development, LLC.