Digital technology to monitor drug usage, adherence
Medication safety is the analyzation of medical drugs to assess their side effects, allergic reaction, medication errors and overmedication processes used during the manufacturing process. Medication safety ensures that drug companies enforce standardization measures to ensure that all medical drugs are produced, handled, and distributed within a set framework to avoid contamination. Medication adherence is termed as the degree to which a patient precisely follows a doctor’s prescription.
Medication safety is concerned with the development of new medicines, increased use of medicines for disease treatment and prevention, and the discovery of new uses of old medication drugs.
Moreover, this aspect of medication is involved in ensuring that patients do not overdose on prescribed drugs and medical professionals can monitor the side effects and impact of drugs on patients.
Digital startup companies in the healthcare industry are integrating sensor technology to ensure that patients comply with medication safety regulations and policies implemented in medical centers. This technology has contributed to the development of tools and devices that detect a patient’s breath for metabolites and for drug-related components among companies such as Propeller Health and nGageIT.
Startups in the medical industry are also using advanced technology in the development of mobile apps to help both doctors and patients to prioritize on medication safety measures. For example, the launch of the MedSnap ID app by MedSnap LLC allows doctors to identify a patient’s set of pills and scan them for safety using computer vision technology.
The medical adherence global market is believed to grow to reach approximately $3.6 billion growing at a CAGR of 12.3%.
It is estimated that there are over 50 startup companies in the drug usage and medical adherence markets that aim to prevent 125,000 deaths and 10% hospitalization rate per year in the United States.
There are no healthcare policies that monitor and hold hospitals accountable for nonadherence to medical prescriptions.
The FDA conducts continuous assessments on the physical appearance of drugs to ensure that there is patient compliance to taking their pills. The agency noted that the shape, size, and colour of medical pills influence the patient’s desire to use certain drugs.
Moreover, the FDA approved the use of ingestible sensor technology for devices that help in medication adherence. The use of medical technology in developing healthcare devices, tools and applications are highly regulated by the FDA to ensure that there are no flaws in these technological gadgets.
Top solutions to ensure medication safety with digital applications
1. Aescula Tech
This is a technology startup that focuses on patient-friendly drug delivery systems to minimise instances of medication errors and wrong prescription details by physicians and clinicians. The company develops scientific and medical devices and tools to ensure that medical drugs take effect within the shortest time possible to improve the rate of recovery among patients.
The company uses an assortment algorithm to ensure that patients have a customized layout of medication drugs that they can use while buying drugs at the local pharmacy.
2. PillPack
This is a startup that improves the pharmaceutical experience for patients and people seeking medical prescriptions. It offers patients an efficient way to manage various medications through a schedule-based plan that users can use to track their drug intake.
3. twoXAR
This is an artificial technological startup that uses computational systems to validate and assess potential candidates through clinical trials and tests to determine the best medical treatment process to use. The company uses proprietary algorithms to analyse medical data to choose the best medical drugs for a certain illness affecting patients in a certain region.
4. Wellth
This is a startup that ensures patients experience medical improvement quickly. The company has applied behavioural economics through the use of incentive strategies to help patients suffering from chronic diseases. The firm has used scalable technology to ensure medical adherence, engagement and improved medical status.
5. CyberDoctor
This is a digital health startup that has developed the PatientPatner application that helps patients focus on their medication, treatment plans, and nutritional diet. It is a medical adherence tool that uses artificial intelligence to offer informative materials for patients to use when choosing the right medication plan that can effectively manage their disease or infection.
6. Life Assistant Technologies Inc.
This is a startup company that developed the Reminder Rosie (RR) which is a technological LED voice controlled clock which offers patients reminders concerning their medication plan. The device functions based on Artificial Intelligence technology which gives patients a personalized experience when using the device.
7. nGageIT
It is a healthcare startup company that uses breathe sensor technology to analyse the levels of non-medication adherence among patients. This company provides a digital solution that prevents patients from over-using prescribed medicines. Moreover, the company has developed Noz, a biosensor detection device that detects nanoparticles of drug substances in patients’ breath.
8. Propeller Health
This is a startup company that has integrated sensor technology to medical devices such as inhalers for asthmatic and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. It ensures that patients are compliant with their medical treatment and prescription drugs. The sensor technology is used to detect whether the patient is taking medication as per the doctor’s prescription.
Now, medicines are safer than ever
Due to advanced technology, the healthcare industry is fast growing into a multi-billion market because of the possibilities medical technology has provided patients and doctors in improving the healthcare system. This technology has changed the dynamics of medication safety and adherence by making physicians and other medical professionals work efficiently by minimising errors during prescription.
Furthermore, the involvement of the FDA in the medication safety sector ensures that the government is directly involved in assessing the technologies used in inventing devices and tools used in medical adherence processes.
As the world focuses on Artificial Intelligence technology, the digital health market is set to grow to exponential levels because it will pave way for organizations to develop new and advanced tools and gadgets that will streamline the allocation of medical drugs to patients in clinics, pharmacies and hospitals.
Physicians will be able to track and monitor their patient’s drug intake frequency from the prescription stage up to the intake plan so that they can detect the rate of health improvement within a certain time period.
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