The MedDispenserThe MedDispenserImproving Medication Compliance for the Improving Medication Compliance for the

ElderlyElderly

Group:Group:Ashley HammannAshley HammannDarnita MimsDarnita MimsConnie SaelzlerConnie SaelzlerAnnie SuarezAnnie Suarez

Advisor:Advisor:Richard Fries, Datex OhmedaRichard Fries, Datex Ohmeda

The Elderly and Medication The Elderly and Medication Regime AdherenceRegime Adherence

When a patient is asked to take a When a patient is asked to take a medication 3 or more times a day, less medication 3 or more times a day, less than 50% of patients can comply with than 50% of patients can comply with those instructions.those instructions.

The more medications added to a patient’s The more medications added to a patient’s therapy, the lower the chance of a patient therapy, the lower the chance of a patient taking all the medications correctly.taking all the medications correctly.

Need for a DeviceNeed for a Device

In order to improve the efficacy of In order to improve the efficacy of medication regimes, medication must be medication regimes, medication must be taken:taken:

At the correct timesAt the correct times In the correct dosagesIn the correct dosages According to pharmacist adviceAccording to pharmacist adviceTherefore, a medication dispenser with the Therefore, a medication dispenser with the

ability to ensure medication is taken ability to ensure medication is taken correctly is needed.correctly is needed.

PurposePurpose

The MedDispenser will:The MedDispenser will: Dispense the correct Dispense the correct

medications at the medications at the correct time in the correct time in the correct dosagescorrect dosages

In order to avoid over- In order to avoid over- dosages, forgetfulness, dosages, forgetfulness, and drug side effects and drug side effects from incorrectly following from incorrectly following pharmacist’s and pharmacist’s and doctor’s directionsdoctor’s directions

E-Pill Med-Time E-Pill Med-Time DispencerDispencer

Dispenses Dispenses medication up to 4 medication up to 4 times per daytimes per day

Lockable and Lockable and tamperproof tamperproof

Expensive: $249.00Expensive: $249.00

E-Pill MD.2E-Pill MD.2

Dispenses medicine Dispenses medicine up to 6 times per dayup to 6 times per day

Calls the caregiver Calls the caregiver automatically if meds automatically if meds are low or not takenare low or not taken

Not PortableNot Portable Expensive: $799.00 Expensive: $799.00

+ $29.95/month+ $29.95/month

E-Pill CompuMedE-Pill CompuMed

Automatically Automatically dispenses up to 4 dispenses up to 4 times / daytimes / day

Skipped doses Skipped doses accumulateaccumulate

Expensive: $895.00Expensive: $895.00

Automatic Vitamin & Pill Automatic Vitamin & Pill Organizer Organizer

Holds up to 28 dosesHolds up to 28 doses $69.95$69.95 Comes with Alarm Comes with Alarm

and the ability to and the ability to schedule the timeschedule the time

By Sharper ImageBy Sharper Image

Pros & Cons TablePros & Cons Table

Disadvantages of Present Disadvantages of Present Medicine DispensersMedicine Dispensers

ExpensiveExpensive Not able to accommodate a month’s Not able to accommodate a month’s

worth of multiple daily dosesworth of multiple daily doses Some not portableSome not portable Skipped doses accumulateSkipped doses accumulate Have to be refilled daily, weekly or bi-Have to be refilled daily, weekly or bi-

weeklyweekly

Current PatentsCurrent Patents

Currently there are many patents out for Currently there are many patents out for an automatic medicine dispenser dating an automatic medicine dispenser dating as far as back as 1977as far as back as 1977

Our design would be different enough Our design would be different enough not to infringe on an existing patentsnot to infringe on an existing patents

ExamplesExamples

Proposed DesignProposed Design

Each medication will be distributed into Each medication will be distributed into separate slots of a containerseparate slots of a container

The prescription definition will be saved The prescription definition will be saved in the device’s memoryin the device’s memory

The correct medication and dosage will The correct medication and dosage will be dispensed at the correct timebe dispensed at the correct time

Each prescription type will be allotted a Each prescription type will be allotted a separate level in the tower separate level in the tower

Picture of One Level for Picture of One Level for One MedicationOne Medication

QFD QFD Diagram Diagram From Customer From Customer SurveysSurveys

QFD QFD DiagramDiagram From Health From Health Care Provider Care Provider SurveysSurveys

Past WorkPast Work Creation and distribution of a Potential Customer Creation and distribution of a Potential Customer

SurveySurvey Creation and distribution of a Health Care Creation and distribution of a Health Care

Provider SurveyProvider Survey Meeting with Philip E. Johnston, Pharm. D. at Meeting with Philip E. Johnston, Pharm. D. at

the Department of Pharmaceutical Services at the Department of Pharmaceutical Services at VUHVUH

Collection of both surveysCollection of both surveys QFD Diagrams for both surveysQFD Diagrams for both surveys Researching patentsResearching patents Researching competitorsResearching competitors

Current WorkCurrent Work

Further research into more concrete Further research into more concrete design specificationsdesign specifications

Build/Draw MedDispenserBuild/Draw MedDispenser DesignsafeDesignsafe Keep trying to get in contact with Mr. Keep trying to get in contact with Mr.

FriesFries

Future WorkFuture Work

A critique by healthcare providersA critique by healthcare providers

An computer prototype of the deviceAn computer prototype of the device Figure cost for producing the machineFigure cost for producing the machine The cost for each individual machineThe cost for each individual machine Flash Presentation of working designFlash Presentation of working design

Conclusions & Conclusions & RecommendationsRecommendations

Pharmacists would need compensation Pharmacists would need compensation in order to fill a medicine dispenserin order to fill a medicine dispenser May increase cost of productMay increase cost of product

Cost of dispenser should be $15 - $20 for Cost of dispenser should be $15 - $20 for consumerconsumer

Improvements to be made on design:Improvements to be made on design: Addition of compartments for liquid Addition of compartments for liquid

medications or any other medication not medications or any other medication not available in a pill formavailable in a pill form