Systems and methods for improved health care compliance

• US 20060218011A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Jorasch
• Original Assignee: James Jorasch
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Walker, Evan, Fincham, Carson C. K., Maniam, Rajivan, Bean, David, Nee, Patrick W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/88 Medical equipments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture may provide for improved health care compliance. Embodiments may comprise, for example, identifying an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, determining output information associated with a game, and providing the output information to the patient. Some embodiments may comprise receiving a code associated with a patient, wherein the code includes encoded information that is indicative of an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, decoding the code to determine the information, determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance, and providing, in the case that compliance with the condition is determined, one or more rewards to the patient.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient;

determining output information associated with a game; and

providing the output information to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a prescription medication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises a vitamin.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the substance comprises at least one of a food or a drink.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is based, at least in part, on the identifying.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing an indication of the status of the compliance with the condition.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an indication associated with a query of the status of the compliance with the condition; and

providing, in response to the query, an indication of the status of the compliance with the condition.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining of the output information is based, at least in part, on the determination of whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with the condition.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an indication of the occurrence of the event.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises:

determining that a cap to a bottle containing the substance is opened.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises:

determining that a bottle containing the substance is picked up.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining that the bottle is picked up comprises:

detecting, via a pressure-sensitive pad, a mass of the bottle; and

detecting, via the pressure-sensitive pad, a change in the detected mass of the bottle.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises:

determining that an amount of the substance is removed from a container.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining that the amount of the substance is removed from the container comprises:

detecting, via a pressure-sensitive pad, a mass of the bottle;

detecting, via the pressure-sensitive pad, a change in the detected mass of the bottle; and

determining a magnitude of the change in the detected mass of the bottle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises:

determining that a seal containing the substance is broken.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises:

determining that a backing of an adhesive patch containing the substance is removed.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises:

determining that a patch containing the substance is applied.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining that the patch is applied comprises:

receiving a signal associated with the patch.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the signal is received via the body of the patient.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the output information comprises:

determining a code indicative of the occurrence of the event; and

encoding the code.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the output information comprises a quantity of output information and wherein the determining of the output information comprises:

determining a frequency associated with the taking of the substance by the patient; and

determining, based on the frequency associated with the taking of the substance, the quantity of the output information.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the output information comprises at least one of:

(i) a game result;

(ii) a game hint or clue;

(iii) an indication of a prize;

(iv) an indication of a contingent prize;

(v) a bingo number;

(vi) a slot machine reel symbol;

(vii) a card value;

(viii) a lotto number;

(ix) a coordinate associated with game;

(x) an instruction associated with a game;

or

(xi) a personal identification number.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the output information is provided as an encoded code.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises:

transmitting the output information to a computing device associated with the patient.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises:

displaying the output information to the patient.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the displaying comprises:

displaying the output information via a display device coupled to a bottle containing the substance.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the displaying comprises:

displaying the output information via a display device of a compliance pad associated with the substance.

29. A method, comprising:

receiving a code associated with a patient, wherein the code includes encoded information that is indicative of an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient;

decoding the code to determine the information;

determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance; and

providing, in the case that compliance with the condition is determined, one or more rewards to the patient.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the receiving comprises:

initiating a communication session with the patient;

prompting the patient for the code, wherein the code is displayed to the patient via a compliance device associated with the substance; and

receiving an indication of the code from the patient.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the code further includes encoded information indicative of at least one of a patient identifier, a substance identifier, an insurance identifier, and a compliance pad identifier.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing a compliance pad to the patient.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the compliance pad generates the code based on the occurrence of the event.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing a compliance report to the patient.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing a game board to the patient.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the patient has successfully completed a game associated with the game board; and

awarding a prize to the patient.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more rewards comprise at least one of (i) one or more lotto tickets, (ii) one or more scratch tickets, (iii) one or more lottery numbers, (iv) one or more jackpots, (v) one or more monetary awards, (vi) one or more merchandise purchase points, (vii) one or more travel purchase points, or (viii) one or more personal or one or more group incentives.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the patient comprises a first patient, the condition comprises a first condition, and the providing of the one or more rewards comprises:

determining a first magnitude of compliance associated with the first condition of the first patient'"'"'s taking of the substance;

determining a second magnitude of compliance associated with a second condition associated with a second patient; and

comparing the first and second magnitudes of compliance.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more rewards are based at least in part on the comparing of the first and second magnitudes of compliance.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the one or more rewards comprise at least one of (i) a progressive jackpot, (ii) a team reward, (iii) a group reward, (iv) a third-party award.

41. An apparatus, comprising:

means for identifying the occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient;

means for determining output information associated with a game; and

means for providing the output information to the patient.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a code associated with a patient, wherein the code includes encoded information that is indicative of the occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient;

means for decoding the code to determine the information;

means for determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance; and

means for providing, in the case that compliance with the condition is determined, one or more rewards to the patient.

43. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store instruction and data indicative of the occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient; and

a processor operatively coupled to execute the instruction stored in the memory to;

identify the occurrence of the event associated with the taking of the substance by the patient;

determine output information associated with a game; and

provide the output information to the patient.

44. A method comprising:

recording data descriptive of one or more cap removal actions by a patient;

encrypting the data into a code that cannot be decrypted without use of a cryptographic decoding protocol; and

outputting the code to the patient to enable the patient to communicate the code to a system that is operable to decrypt the code and, if the data encrypted in the code indicates compliance with a description instruction, is operable to enter the patient into a sweepstakes upon the patient communicating the code to the system.

45. A method, comprising:

identifying an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient;

determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance;

determining, based at least in part on the determination of whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with the condition, output information associated with a game; and

providing the output information to the patient.