Health Care News
Innovative technology could help with medication compliance
Mar/04/2010
CNN Health 
Companies are working to develop high-tech solutions for people who have trouble remembering to take their medication, reports CNN. One solution involves swallowing pills that contain both medication and a tiny microchip, which measures data about side effects and how well the medicine is working. The microchip then wirelessly transmits data to a cell phone or email account of the patient or their caretaker. Another potential solution, called GlowCap, gives visual and audio reminders. GlowCap is basically a pill bottle that flashes orange when it’s time to take medication, and plays music if the patient hasn’t taken the pills within an hour. If that’s not enough, those who still haven’t taken their medication after several hours receive a call or text message reminder. Proponents say that the use of such devices could help save the $290 billion a year in health costs resulting from patients not taking medication as prescribed.