The Challenge

Developing countries are presently facing a growing healthcare challenge due to an increasing number of people suffering from chronic conditions, an ageing population who live with these conditions for longer, and limited healthcare resources.

The New Zealand healthcare strategy is to encourage people to ‘age in place’ rather than in care facilities. To be effective, resources need to be allocated to individuals in need at the appropriate times. It also means that older people need to be actively involved in the management of their own health conditions. In New Zealand many of the DHBs are moving to implement coordinated home care programs.

To ensure quality health outcomes for those with chronic conditions, people need to be provided with simple tools and support to help them in their homes. 

The Concept

A person living independently and presenting with complications in managing their own medication is referred to a pharmacy. A trained pharmacist enrols the person into the Pharmacy Medication Management Service, their medication is then blister packed and their information is passed to a support service.

The support service contacts the individual to arrange a time to install a Personal Response Unit (PRU), which is then connected to the power and phone in the person’s home. PRU provides audible and displayed voice prompts to remind the individual when it is time to take their medication.  The individual acknowledges the reminder by pressing a flashing button at the time they are taking their medication.

A daily report is sent to the support service for tracking along with additional alerts for missed medication. Any adherence issues are followed up by the support service with a phone call, and when needed, a consultation with their GP, pharmacist, or a nurse visit is organised.