One miracle of modern medicine is that taking medications regularly helps people live longer, healthier lives. The downside is that means a lot of pills to keep track of, and those plastic daily pill organizers aren’t a perfect remedy.
The Dispense-a-Pill, developed by Allentown-based HealthOneMed, was made to solve that problem. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania is investing $50,000 in HealthOneMed’s plans to market and advertise the machine.
Company spokesman Stephen Prange says HealthOneMed has sold more than 100 Dispense-a-Pill units so far this year, mostly to customers encountered through trade shows.
The machine is a sort of high-tech pill organizer in which patients can program when they have to take their pills and how big each dose is. It can handle eight medications and alert people to conduct other routines like blood-pressure readings and insulin injections. To be reminded of the time to take their medicine, patients can choose from flashing lights, sounds or custom voice recordings.
“Maybe you record, ‘Please take your pills,’ ” Prange says. “Maybe have one of the grandkids record it to humanize it a bit.”
If medications aren’t taken at the appointed time, the Dispense-a-Pill can be programmed with up to five phone numbers to call so a patient or caregiver can be notified.
HealthOneMed founder Dr. Gazy Abdulhay, who practices at the Lehigh Valley Women’s Cancer Center, thought of the idea for the Dispense-a-Pill after hearing from patients who had trouble remembering when to take their medications. It’s a widespread problem; a 2003 report from the World Health Organization said that in developed nations, people with chronic diseases took their medications correctly just half the time.
Source: Stephen Prange, HealthOneMed
Writer: Rebecca VanderMeulen