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Medication abstracts – Leigh Vaughan
Automated Digital Intervention Drives Medication
Adherence
Abstract: According to studies done by the Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 130 million
Americans currently suffer from comorbidity (more than
one disease) and are prescribed multiple medications.
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ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Aug. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -Bi-Rite Quality Pharmacy in La Habra, Calif., has
piloted a new patient engagement solution to educate,
motivate and remind their patients with chronic diseases
to take their medication as prescribed. The results after
the first six months of the program show dramatically
improved medication adherence. The solution,
developed by PrescribeWellness, and called Automated
Digital Intervention (ADI), leverages automated voice,
text, e-mail and push notification to better engage the
patient and improve patient behavior.
"Over 700,000 people are admitted to emergency rooms
in the United States every year because of nonadherence to prescribed medications," said I.R. Patel,
R.Ph., of Bi-Rite Quality Pharmacy. "The problem is
growing, and until now, there has been no cost-effective
solution to confront the unique and individual causes of
non-adherence. My pharmacy has the added complexity
of serving patients with more than 10 native languages
and corresponding cultural differences. The ADI
solution from PrescribeWellness is the first service that
allows us to automate communications in our patients'
channel of choice and language of choice. It is also the
first to address the cognitive, motivational and cultural
differences in behavioral change."
According to studies done by the Center for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS), 130 million Americans
currently suffer from comorbidity (more than one
disease) and are prescribed multiple medications. Nonadherence to these medications results in
hospitalizations and costs totaling $300 billion annually.
By moving patients from 50 percent compliant in their
medication to adherent (at least 80 percent compliant),
insurance companies and healthcare providers can
annually save between $4,000 and $8,000 per patient in
hospital and emergency room visitations.
"Most adherence solutions on the market today are
designed to address the cognitive challenges of
medication non-adherence, but ignore the other factors.
Cost, lack of motivation, fear of side effects, denial and
health literacy are equally important," said Dr. Terry
Olson, VP of Behavioral Solutions at PrescribeWellness.
"We have designed our ADI service to address all of
these factors."
In the pilot program, Dr. Olson designed a scale that
allowed pharmacists to categorize patients based on
their past behavior and observed challenges. This check
box selection process, administered either at the time of
the prescription delivery or during a one-hour
Medication Therapy Management (MTM) session
between patient and pharmacist, automatically enrolled
patients in a unique series of communications designed
for each individual's needs. "The frequency and
intensity of messages for a patient taking two
medications a day is completely different from a patient
taking 20 medications a day who is also suffering from
dementia," said Dr. Olson.
Through the first six months of the program, Bi-Rite
Quality Pharmacy was able to increase medication
refills in patients with high cholesterol from 60 percent
to 93 percent and from 76 percent to 91 percent in
patients with hypertension. As a result, patients in these
two categories rose from 77 percent to 93 percent
adherent. By moving the vast majority of patients to
adherent, PrescribeWellness has helped Bi-Rite Quality
Pharmacy improve customer loyalty, but more
importantly, improved the health of their patients,
keeping healthy people out of the hospital and shining a
light on the promise of reducing national health care
costs.
About PrescribeWellnessPrescribeWellness was
founded in 2010 with a mission of reducing health care
costs and improving health in America. The company
delivers cloud-based communications and facilitates
collaboration of health care providers, family and other
stakeholders to improve care and outcomes. Their
services include population health, medication
adherence, chronic disease management, behavioral
change programs and transitional care. For more
information, please visit www.prescribewellness.com.
SOURCE PrescribeWellness
Credit: PrescribeWellness
1. Shellpak(R) Demonstrates Statistically Significant
Improvement in Patient Medication Adherence
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Document 1 of 1
Shellpak(R) Demonstrates Statistically Significant Improvement in
Patient Medication Adherence
Author: Anonymous.
Publication info: PR Newswire [New York] 16 June
2011.
ProQuest document link
Abstract: According to the researchers, a Shellpakbased adherence strategy could provide a substantial
cumulative public health benefit when broadly
implemented over a large population.
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RICHMOND, Va., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -According to new data published in Clinical
Therapeutics, the way a medication is packaged can
have a significant impact on whether patients take it as
prescribed. The study showed that Shellpak(R) calendar
blister packaging from MeadWestvaco Corp. (NYSE:
MWV), a provider of pharmaceutical packaging
solutions, was associated with improvement in
prescription adherence behavior in patients when
compared with traditional pill vials. According to the
researchers, a Shellpak-based adherence strategy could
provide a substantial cumulative public health benefit
when broadly implemented over a large population.
Poor adherence to medication is a growing issue across
the country. The New England Healthcare Institute
estimates the current cost of drug-related morbidity,
including poor adherence, to be as much as $290 billion
annually in avoidable medical spending, 13% of total
U.S. healthcare spending. Research also shows that half
of all patients in the U.S. do not take their medicines as
prescribed, a dismal level of adherence which has held
steady over the past three decades. Poor adherence leads
to worsening of disease, serious and avoidable health
risks, increased hospitalizations and even death. Within
the study, the use of Shellpak, a proprietary calendarized
30-day, unit-of-use medication package, demonstrated
improvement in the adjusted estimates of refill
persistence and adherence as measured by length of
therapy and proportion of days covered with medication.
"We know there are many factors affecting medication
adherence, and we know that the most successful
solutions will involve multiple components," said study
co-author Lenn Murrelle, MSPH, PhD, and principal
founder of Venebio, a life sciences research consultancy.
"What's exciting about this study is that medication
packaging alone was found to have a positive effect on
medication refill behavior. This says to us that
packaging without any additional communications or
instructions to either pharmacists or patients can play an
important role in helping patients take their medication
as directed."
The retrospective analysis used pharmacy dispensing
data from Walmart for 3.1 million individuals filling
prescriptions for the generic cardiovascular medications
lisinopril or enalapril, either alone or in combination
with hydrochlorothiazide.
Results revealed the Shellpak refill persistence benefit
was especially pronounced among certain subgroups.
New medication users had an average length of therapy
increase of 9 days over a year.
Ongoing medication users had an average length of
therapy increase of 5 days over a year.
Persons taking fixed-dose combination formulations, or
2 medications in a single tablet experienced an average
17-day increase in length of therapy for new users and
12 days for ongoing medication users.
In addition, the study revealed that Shellpak users
overall were more likely to reach "full refill adherence"
- at least 80% of days covered with medication in a year
- than vial users, with the greatest effect observed in
new medication users. However, full refill adherence
(PDC greater than or equal to 80%) was more likely in
Shellpak users regardless of their baseline level of
adherence.
PDC greater than or equal to 80% was more likely
reached by using Shellpak in those with the lowest level
of baseline adherence, by 20% in new medication users
and 23% in ongoing users.
Individuals with a middle level of adherence at baseline
had a 15% greater likelihood of reaching full adherence
with Shellpak for new users and 8% for ongoing users.
In the group with the highest level of baseline adherence,
Shellpak users were 11% more likely to reach full
adherence for new medication users and 5% for ongoing
users.
"This publication is the first, large-scale
pharmacoepidemiologic analysis of medication
packaging, and the results are exciting and significant,"
said Ted Lithgow, PhD, president and chief science
officer, MWV Healthcare. "We believe smarter
packaging serves a purpose beyond simply containing
and protecting the physical integrity of a pharmaceutical,
and this robust data provides compelling scientific
evidence for Shellpak as a now-proven solution to help
drive better patient adherence. We will continue to work
with the medical, pharmacy and pharmaceutical
communities, and regulators to consider these data and
to further investigate the effects of packaging on
medication adherence."
About the Study
This was a two-year, retrospective cohort study of
325,361 new and ongoing users of the oral angiotensin
converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) lisinopril or
enalapril - commonly prescribed for the treatment of
hypertension and congestive heart failure - designed to
assess the real world effectiveness of a new calendar
packaging technology on prescription refill adherence
and persistence for daily, self-administered, long-term
medication use. Eligible users comprised two packaging
cohorts, Shellpak (282,605 lisinopril users (86.9%)) and
vial (42,756 enalapril users (13.1%)), and ACEI user
groups: 76.321 new users (23.5%) and 249,040
prevalent ongoing ACEI users (75.5%).
To assess the impact of Shellpak on refill behavior,
measures of refill adherence and persistence in the
baseline year before and follow-up year after the
packaging switch were compared in the 325,361 adults
aged 18-75 years who filled 30- or 90-day prescriptions
in both the baseline and follow-up years. These
individuals had adherence and persistence data available
both before and after the packaging switch to Shellpak.
Researchers used linear and logistic regression and
propensity score matching to assess the impact of
calendar blister packaging on refill adherence, using
medication possession ratio (MPR) and proportion of
days covered (PDC), and persistence using length of
therapy (LOT).
The study was designed, conducted, analyzed and
reported in accordance with the Good Research
Comparative Effectiveness (GRACE) principles and
Guidelines for Good Pharmacoepidemiology Practice.
The Walmart pharmacy dispensing data were deidentified in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
About Shellpak(R)
MeadWestvaco Healthcare's Shellpak(R) is an
innovative, award-winning package designed to improve
medication adherence alone or in combination with
other adherence strategies. Shellpak features a childresistant and senior-friendly outer plastic shell that
protects medication tablets packaged in a 30-day
calendar blister card similar to packaging long used for
birth control pills. The calendar feature helps patients
track medication usage, helping reduce dosing errors
such as overdosage and missed doses, and refill timing.
The large, flat blistercard and package surface allows
for dosing instructions and patient education to be
printed in large, readable font. Shellpak can also be
customized to reflect a brand image and provide
differentiation for each medication enclosed.
About MWV
MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE: MWV), provides
packaging solutions to many of the world's mostadmired brands in the healthcare, beauty and personal
care, food, beverage, home and garden, and tobacco
industries. The company's businesses also include
Consumer & Office Products, Specialty Chemicals, and
the Community Development and Land Management
Group, which sustainably manages the company's land
holdings to support its operations, and to provide for
conservation, recreation and development opportunities.
With 19,000 employees worldwide, MWV operates in
30 countries and serves customers in more than 100
nations. MWV manages all of its forestlands in
accordance with internationally recognized forest
certification standards, and has been named to the Dow
Jones Sustainability World Index for seven consecutive
years. For more information, please visit
www.mwv.com.
1. InnovationRx Unveils Patient-Centric Medication
Adherence Service
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InnovationRx Unveils Patient-Centric Medication Adherence
Service
Author: Anonymous.
Publication info: Wireless News (Jul 18, 2008).
ProQuest document link
Abstract: "InnovationRx fills a gap in a circle of care
by offering resources and behavioral intervention that
increase adherence and improve patient outcomes," said
Dr. Nathaniel Rickles, chief clinical officer.
"InnovationRx challenges patients beyond the act of
taking medication simply because it was prescribed and
helps them to goal set and identify positive outcomes
that will improve their quality of life."
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WIRELESS NEWS-July 18, 2008-InnovationRx
Unveils Patient-Centric Medication Adherence Service
(C)2008 10Meters - http://www.10meters.com
InnovationRx, a division of Innovation Group, has
launched a comprehensive medication adherence service
that educates and enables patients to take more control
over their medications and health.
The patient-centric service, jointly developed through a
research grant with Northeastern University School of
Pharmacy, targets all demographics, age groups, disease
states and includes a combination of education, self
assessments, customized intervention plans, reminders
and private, convenient access to live pharmacists. The
service is available immediately. Patients can select one
of several monthly subscription plans available online at
innovationrx.com.
Fifty percent of people do not take their medications as
prescribed, and up to a third of patients receiving
prescriptions never even fill them. Moreover, it's
estimated that 125,000 yearly deaths in the U.S. are
caused by medication non-adherence. Typical reasons
for non-adherence include a fear of side effects, cost, or
not understanding the importance of taking the
medication.
"Non-adherence leads to health problems, emergency
room visits and hospitalizations, and causes an
economic ripple effect that leads to $300 billion in
related healthcare costs," said Sean D. Teare, president
of InnovationRx. "InnovationRx addresses nonadherence head-on with a customized intervention plan
and live support from pharmacists. We not only expect
to help wring out costs that are a major drain on the
healthcare system, but also to dramatically improve the
quality of life for patients."
Key elements of the InnovationRx service include:
- Adherence Assessment - This proprietary assessment
survey targets the underlying issues causing nonadherence. The assessment produces a non-adherence
risk score that enables triage and intervention.
- Pharmacist-Staffed Call Center - Staffed with licensed
pharmacists trained in motivational interviewing and
adherence intervention, the call center provides patients
with personalized, one-to-one support and consultation.
Pharmacists are trained to help patients overcome
behavioral, motivational, cognitive and another
adherence obstacles.
- Medication Reminders - Patients receive automated
reminders to take their medication via e-mail, text
message or automated phone call based upon their
preferences.
- Case Management - Dedicated clinical liaisons work
with organizations to ensure that clinical goals and
standards are met. They can create and define a
customized adherence program to ensure that outcomes
assessment is completed in a timely and accurate
manner. Periodic scientific evaluations will be
conducted to determine the return on investment (ROI)
and continuous quality improvement (CQI) of the
program.
- Extensive Reporting Capabilities - InnovationRx
provides a data-mining tool to analyze and dissect the
outcomes data. These tools feature a robust analytics
engine fueled by configurable business rules and leading
practice performance indicators to empower
organizations with a highly customizable data analysis
process.
Furthermore, patients receive a personal account at the
InnovationRx website. Through their homepage, they
can access a full line of interactive medication
management tools as well as access information about
the drugs they are taking and learn about side effects or
reactions with other medications or food.
"InnovationRx fills a gap in a circle of care by offering
resources and behavioral intervention that increase
adherence and improve patient outcomes," said Dr.
Nathaniel Rickles, chief clinical officer. "InnovationRx
challenges patients beyond the act of taking medication
simply because it was prescribed and helps them to goal
set and identify positive outcomes that will improve
their quality of life."
((Comments on this story may be sent to
[email protected]))
1. Changing the Face of Healthcare: Community
Pharmacists Nationwide Embrace MTM Patient Care
Opportunity; Medicare Part D Patients Across U.S.
Receive Medication Therapy Management Services
Bibliography
Document 1 of 1
Changing the Face of Healthcare: Community Pharmacists
Nationwide Embrace MTM Patient Care Opportunity; Medicare
Part D Patients Across U.S. Receive Medication Therapy
Management Services
Publication info: PR Newswire [New York] 22 Jan
2007: n/a.
ProQuest document link
Abstract: CCRx is one of the first Part D plans offering
face-to-face MTM services by community pharmacists
to fulfill its CMS-mandated MTM obligation. During an
MTM visit, pharmacists review patients' medications
(including prescription and over-the-counter drugs),
counsel patients on proper medication use, pinpoint
potential medication interactions and safety issues,
identify cost-saving opportunities, provide diseaserelated patient education and coordinate with physicians
regarding any recommended changes to the patient's
medication regimen.
Community MTM Services, Inc. (CMTM) delivers
innovative patient care solutions. Our Software-as-aService platform streamlines the delivery of highly
targeted medication management programs and speeds
patient recruitment campaigns. The broad-based CMTM
pharmacy network serves as centerpiece of our
nationwide, multi-channel program delivery capability.
Working with CMTM, program sponsors can harness
the high trust pharmacist-patient relationship to achieve
superior business and clinical results.
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ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Community MTM Services, Inc.(CMTM) pharmacist
network delivered targeted patient care services to
morethan 44,000 patients during the last six months of
2006. Pharmacists acrossthe United States continue to
embrace the opportunity of expanding theirbusiness
models to include targeted patient care services,
delivering MedicarePart D Medication Therapy
Management (MTM) services to thousands of
qualifiedCommunity Care Rx(sm) *(CCRx) Medicare
patients.
"We believe MTM services are best delivered by
community pharmacists," said Charles Hallberg, chief
executive officer of MemberHealth, plan sponsor for
CCRx, the nation's fourth largest Part D plan. "We are
thrilled with the results for our members -- medication
cost savings, better self-care and disease management,
and safer use of medications -- all from private
consultations with their pharmacists. Our MTM reach
with members in 2006 was phenomenal for a new
program, and we look forward to even better results in
2007."
CCRx is one of the first Part D plans offering face-toface MTM services by community pharmacists to fulfill
its CMS-mandated MTM obligation. During an MTM
visit, pharmacists review patients' medications
(including prescription and over-the-counter drugs),
counsel patients on proper medication use, pinpoint
potential medication interactions and safety issues,
identify cost-saving opportunities, provide diseaserelated patient education and coordinate with physicians
regarding any recommended changes to the patient's
medication regimen.
"The delivery of MTM face-to-face has enabled our
pharmacists to help improve the health of their patients
and enhance customer loyalty," said Tony Civello,
president and chief executive officer of Kerr Drug, Inc.
"Our stores are embracing the CMTM platform because
it gives our pharmacists an organized, efficient method
for incorporating patient care services into their daily
routines. It's easy to learn and use, and delivers targeted
patient intervention cases to the pharmacist. We look
forward to expanding our services to even more patients
in 2007 and beyond." Mr. Civello is the recipient of
Chain Drug Review's 2006 Retailer of the Year Award.
"In the last six months of 2006, community pharmacy
made a significant contribution toward advancing
consumer health by stepping up to the plate and
delivering MTM and related patient care services," said
Kurt Proctor, R.Ph., Ph.D., CMTM chief operating
officer. "We foresee a major role for the CMTM service
in helping pharmacists provide targeted, proactive,
quality care to patients from coast to coast."
Participating pharmacists used CMTM's secure, Webbased solution to schedule, manage, chart, and bill for
MTM and other patient care services. The CMTM
service identifies qualified patients and routes them for
intervention to the patient's own pharmacy, along with
targeted patient education materials to facilitate
informed, high quality and evidence-based care.
*Operating as Community Pharmacists Care Rx in
Oklahoma
About Community MTM Services, Inc.
Community MTM Services, Inc. (CMTM) delivers
innovative patient care solutions. Our Software-as-aService platform streamlines the delivery of highly
targeted medication management programs and speeds
patient recruitment campaigns. The broad-based CMTM
pharmacy network serves as centerpiece of our
nationwide, multi-channel program delivery capability.
Working with CMTM, program sponsors can harness
the high trust pharmacist-patient relationship to achieve
superior business and clinical results.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeri Kirschner
Director, Marketing
Community MTM Services, Inc.
100 Daingerfield Rd
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-600-1253
[email protected]
1. Consultant helps patients manage multiple
medications
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Consultant helps patients manage multiple medications
Author: Anonymous.
Publication info: The Billings Gazette [Billings, Mont]
16 Oct 2011: C1.
ProQuest document link
Abstract: How long have you been in business? Since
July 2010.
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More and more older people are seeing more than one
doctor and being prescribed more than one medication.
Some medications aren't compatible, which can
compound existing problems and could even be deadly.
Other medications may be redundant, and many
prescriptions have less expensive generic alternatives.
If you're a patient, trying to sort it all out can be vexing.
That's where Carla Cobb comes in. She runs AssessRx
in Billings, a consulting business that provides
comprehensive medication reviews for people with
chronic illnesses.
"We meet with individuals in a private office setting to
go over all of their medications in detail and provide
information and recommendations about how to
improve results or decrease costs," Cobb said. "We help
people get the most from their medications."
Many of her clients are referred by doctors or family
members. She sees her service as something like visiting
a dentist or an eye doctor for a check-up.
"It's just another spoke, and important spoke, in the
health care wheel," she said. "The consultations can
save a person a lot of money and could save them a trip
to the emergency room."
AssessRx is at 3936 Ave. B, Suite D, in Billings and
Cobb may be reached by phone at 281-8252, by fax at
281-8253 fax, by email [email protected] or
through the company's website, www.assessrx.com.
Here's what else Cobb had to say about AssessRx:
Why start this business?
We realized that there is a need in the community for
helping people with their medications. If people take
several medicines, see more than one doctor, or are
having problems with their medications, we can take the
time to answer all of their questions. We have a special
interest in working with people with mental illnesses as
the additional assistance can be especially helpful for
them.
Where did startup funding come from?
Four partners made a personal investment to set up the
office space to meet with patients and lease medication
management software.
How long have you been in business?
Since July 2010.
Your biggest challenge during the current recession?
Educating people about the benefits of a comprehensive
medication review and helping them understand what a
unique service we provide.
What was done to overcome those challenges?
We have been meeting with patient organizations and
doctors to let them know about this new type of service.
Once patients go through a medication review and
understand the benefits, word of mouth has been very
beneficial for getting the word out.
What is being done to expand the business?
We are doing market research to help identify our target
audience and develop our messaging.
Your best business decisions?
Applying for a grant to be able to offer this service to
people at no cost and be able to prove the benefits.
Your worst business mistake?
Underestimating the time commitment needed to market
a new concept.
What advice do you have for someone running a
business?
A new business can consume your life. Be sure to make
time for yourself and your family.
Number of workers?
Four medication experts and three part-time staff.
What's your rive-year plan for the business?
Our primary goal is to demonstrate that comprehensive
medication reviews can improve access to healthcare,
improve patient outcomes, and reduce costs. We want to
prove the value to insurance companies so that we can
offer the service to even more people.
A question you would ask other entrepreneurs?
How do you get the word out about a totally new
concept?
If you weren't doing what you are now, what would be
your dream job?
I dream of being able to provide comprehensive, stateof-the-art, one-stop care for people with depression and.
bipolar disorder, where they could get all of their health
care needs met in one place.