Systems and methods for improved health care compliance

• US 8,092,224 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Jorasch
• Original Assignee: James Jorasch
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Nee, Patrick W. Jr., Fincham, Carson C. K., Walker, Evan, Bean, David, Maniam, Rajivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Application Number:
  US11/255,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 434/262, 434/236, 434/322, 463/1, 463/16, 463/43, 463/44, 713/161
• US Class Current: 434/236
• 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:

receiving, by a central controller and from a patient, information representing that the patient has taken a substance in accordance with a pre-determined schedule for taking the substance, wherein the receiving comprises determining that a cap to a bottle containing the substance is opened;

determining, by the central controller and based on the receiving, output information associated with a game, wherein the determining of the output information comprises (i) determining a code indicative of the taking of the substance, and (ii) encoding the code; and

providing, by the central controller, 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 of the output information is based, at least in part, on the receiving.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, comprises:

determining whether the taking of the substance in accordance with the pre-determined schedule for taking the substance 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 taking of the substance is compliant with the condition.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an indication of the received information.

11. 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.

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

a game result;

a game hint or clue;

an indication of a prize;

an indication of a contingent prize;

a bingo number;

a slot machine reel symbol;

a card value;

a lotto number;

a coordinate associated with game;

an instruction associated with a game;

or

a personal identification number.

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

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

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

displaying the output information to the patient.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying comprises:

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

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a central controller, 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, and wherein the event comprises an indication that a cap to a bottle containing the substance is opened;

decoding, by the central controller, the code to determine the information;

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

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

17. The method of claim 16, 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.

18. The method of claim 16, 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.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a compliance report to the patient.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a game board to the patient.

21. The method of claim 20, 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.

22. The method of claim 16, 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.

23. The method of claim 16, 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.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more rewards are based at least in part on the comparing of the first and second magnitudes of compliance.

25. The method of claim 24, 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.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving, by a central controller and from a patient, information representing that the patient has taken a substance in accordance with a pre-determined schedule for taking the substance, wherein the receiving comprises determining that a cap to a bottle containing the substance is opened;

means for determining output information associated with a game, wherein the determining of the output information comprises (i) determining a code indicative of the taking of the substance, and (ii) encoding the code; and

means for providing the output information to the patient.

27. 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, and wherein the event comprises an indication that a cap to a bottle containing the substance is opened;

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.

28. 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;

receive, from a patient, information representing that the patient has taken a substance in accordance with a pre-determined schedule for taking the substance, wherein the receiving comprises determining that a cap to a bottle containing the substance is opened;

determine output information associated with a game, wherein the determining of the output information comprises (i) determining a code indicative of the taking of the substance, and (ii) encoding the code; and

provide the output information to the patient.

29. A method, comprising:

identifying, by a server device, an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a prescription substance by a patient, wherein the identifying comprises determining that a cap to a bottle containing the substance is opened;

determining, by the server device, whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a prescribed criteria for taking of the prescription substance;

determining, by the server device and based at least in part on the determination of whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with the prescribed criteria, a reward for the patient; and

providing, by the server device and to a device operated by the patient, an indication of the reward, the indication provided in the form of game output, wherein the game output comprises an encoded code.