PAR3 Communications and Vitality, Inc. have joined
forces to provide retail pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health
system administrators with a new approach to improving medication adherence.
GlowCaps, designed to replace standard pill
bottle caps, are integrated into Vitality's proprietary network and use
low-cost wireless technology to continuously monitor patients' dosing
behavior. To use GlowCaps, patients plug the GlowCaps Nitelite into any power
socket in their home. The GlowCaps pill cap then communicates wirelessly with
the Nitelite to provide a glowing visual reminder when pills need to be taken.
If doses are missed, the pill cap glows brighter and more insistent.
If further intervention is needed,
interactive motivational, instructive, and diagnostic voice or text messages
are delivered to patients or caregivers through PAR3's advanced communication
solutions. GlowCaps also mails a monthly health report to patients for
motivational purposes and submits refill requests to pharmacies before
prescriptions run out.
"By addressing dosing behavior in real time,
rather than weeks after a compliance lapse, we can improve patient health,
while reducing the rising costs associated with nonadherence," said Dr.
Michael Ross, Vice President of Healthcare at PAR3. PAR3 and Vitality's
integrated GlowCaps will be available by early 2007.