Prescription compliance monitoring system

• US 7,945,461 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: VivoNex, LLC
• Inventors: Sekura, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): GILLIGAN, CHRISTOPHER L
• Application Number:
  US12/032,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20080281630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3, 600/300
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for monitoring patient compliance to medical therapy that includes repeatedly measuring therapy compliance of a patient, uploading the therapy compliance measurements to a personal computer, connecting a central server using the personal computer, sending the uploaded therapy compliance measurements from the personal computer to the central server, providing a number of predetermined compliance threshold amounts, comparing the sent therapy compliance measurements with the number of predetermined compliance thresholds corresponding to the patient, determining a need and level of intervention based on the result of the comparing and reporting the determined need for intervention to a health professional corresponding to the patient and determined level.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring patient compliance to medical therapy using a device having a central processing unit and a server having a central processing unit, comprising:

repeatedly measuring therapy compliance of a patient by obtaining a voluntary compliance response from the patient using the device and storing information of the compliance on the device;

uploading the therapy compliance measurements stored on the device to a central server via a wireless connection;

selecting a number of individualized compliance threshold amounts for the patient, the individualized compliance threshold amounts being uniquely selected for the patient based on characteristics of the medical therapy;

comparing, using the server, the uploaded therapy compliance measurements with the number of individualized compliance thresholds corresponding to the patient;

identifying, using the server, instances where patient compliance fails to meet the individualized compliance thresholds; and

reporting a failure to meet the individualized compliance thresholds to a care-giving party enabling action to be taken by that party.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the action is one of calling the patient, emailing the patient, speaking to the patient at a future checkup, sending an ambulance, visiting the patient, or calling a contact of the patient.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining incentives and penalties based on the result of the comparing.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining any continuation of therapy based on the result of the comparing.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the repeatedly measuring therapy compliance is accomplished using a NexDose device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the central server is a SQL server.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a personal computer serves as a buffer between a collecting device used to repeatedly measuring therapy and a server.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the repeatedly measuring therapy compliance uses a PDA or cell phone equipped with software that records performance data and has the capacity to upload information to the server.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number of predetermined compliance threshold amounts include, one of, a length of exercise, blood pressure, heart rate, weight, blood glucose, user entered thresholds or drug regimens.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number of predetermined compliance threshold amounts include, one of, taking a dose of medication within a specified interval where many such intervals are scheduled, taking a physiologic measurement within a specified interval where many such intervals are scheduled, meeting with a healthcare provider within a specified interval where many such intervals are scheduled and performing exercise or physical therapy within a specified interval where many such intervals are scheduled.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device used to measure and store therapy compliance is further configured to provide a reminder that therapy should be administered at a specific time or time range.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

updating the medical therapy stored in the device in response to a failure to meet the individualized compliance thresholds.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measured therapy compliance is compared at the central server and is reconciled with prescription orders identifying discrepancies which are reported in notifications.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measured therapy compliance is compared at the central server and is reconciled with prescription refill data identifying discrepancies which are reported in notifications.