Patient starter kits

• US 20080018095A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Garett
• Original Assignee: John Garett
• Inventors: Garett, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/67
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4204 Inspection openings or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4233 Cards, coupons, labels or the like formed separately from the container or lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/427 Individual packages joined together, e.g. by means of integral tabs B65D5/5495 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 5/02 Portable sample cases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/90 Medical record

Abstract

A patient starter kit for distributing a product sample together with educational materials or additional product samples is disclosed. Integral to the kit is a one or a two-compartment packaging technique that provides pharmaceutical product samples in the same container as other patient drug information, disease state material and consumer product samples, coupons, other forms of media and/or related consumer products.

Claims

1. A patient starter kit comprising a body having a front and back panel and a pair of opposite side panels, the side panels being attached to a top and bottom panel of a selected width disposed between each of the side panels and the front and back panel, and having at least two compartments, a first compartment containing a pharmaceutical product sample or sample representation and a second or more compartments provided with a cavity for items selected from the group consisting of patient drug information, disease state information, literature, other forms of media, related consumer products, coupons, product samples or consumer literature, medical devices, and wherein said pharmaceutical sample is available or visible to the patient.

2. The patient starter kit of claim 1, wherein said first compartment comprises a recess for positioning items selected from the group consisting of the pharmaceutical product or debit card, voucher card, loyalty card or copay card.

3. The patient starter kit of claim 2, further comprising a tab in the first compartment for securing the sample package in position.

4. The patient starter kit of claim 1, wherein said first compartment comprises a cavity in the first compartment, having one or more windows for viewing or accessibility.

6. The patient starter kit of claim 1, wherein said body is selected from the group consisting of cardboard, paperboard, cloth, vinyl, PVC, and plastic.

10. A method for improving patient adherence to prescription drug therapy comprising providing the patient starter kit as in claim 1.

11. A method for improving patient adherence to prescription drug therapy as in claim 10 further comprising:

improving ease of use of prescription drug;

encouraging compliance and persistence faster and easier; and

creating a “

positive”

patient experience.

12. A method for enhancing the patient'"'"'s “

point of care”

experience in the physician office comprising providing the patient starter kit as in claim 1.

13. The patient starter kit as in claim 1 further comprising a tray-organizer which holds one or more patient starter kits for display or storage.

14. The patient starter kit as in claim 13 wherein two protruding tabs located at the base of said tray organizer hang slightly over the edge of a shelf and grip said shelf thereby preventing dislocation.

5. A patient starter kit having a body selected from the group consisting of a bag and pouch, and having a first compartment for a pharmaceutical product sample and a second compartment provided with a cavity for items selected from the group consisting of patient drug information, disease state information, literature, other forms of media, and related consumer products, and wherein said pharmaceutical sample is visible or accessible to the patient.

7. A patient starter kit having a body selected from the group consisting of a box, pouch or bag and having a first compartment for a means to obtain a pharmaceutical product sample and a second compartment provided with a cavity for items selected from the group consisting of patient drug information, disease state information, literature, other forms of media, and related consumer products, and wherein said pharmaceutical sample is visible or accessible to the patient.

8. The patient starter kit of claim 7, wherein said means for obtaining a pharmaceutical product sample is selected from the group consisting of a prescription, a prescription discount card, a reimbursement for the cost of the first prescription, enrollment information for a prescription discount program, a prescription co-pay waiver, a prescription co-pay discount, a coupon for a trial sample, a coupon for refills, and combinations thereof.

9. A patient starter kit having a body selected from the group consisting of a box, pouch or bag comprising having a first compartment containing both a drug sample or representation of the drug sample and a second compartment comprising an envelope, wherein the second compartment is contained within the first compartment and contains items selected from the group consisting of patient and disease state information, literature, other forms of media, related consumer products, consumer package goods, devices, services, samples, coupons, and literature.