MediSafe’s mobile “pillbox” app drives up medication adherence rates by sharing information with patients’ loved ones

MediSafe Project Increases Users’ Medication Adherence Rate to 81% .

We note now that we consider this particular mobile app, MediSafe, to be a particularly important one, not only because of what the app itself aims to accomplish – which means that it is a statistical certainty that lives will be saved.

But one health IT startup, MediSafe Project, is claiming an early victory just two months after launching its dosage reminder app for mobile devices, pushing adherence up by 30% above average.

The app creates an ecosystem of care providers (such as family and friends) that share notifications of when a patient has taken their medications, and can act as support and reminders for missed dosages; texting and callbacks can be programmed for the patient as well. Pills can be identified, even by photos compared to a…

Medisafe can increase medication compliance, keep patients safer and healthier and thus reduce hospitalization and mortality.

I think this is a really great idea. But I think MediSafe should create a website, too – for all the people in rural areas without cell phone coverage.

MediSafe combats the staggering problem of medication non-compliance using everyday technology and the power of support systems to integrate healthier behaviors into patients’ lives. The ripple effects from these changes benefit our entire society

Medisafe intends to generate revenue in two ways: selling access to its data – usage information, and other pieces of information are likely gold to pharma companies – and by allowing for targeted marketing.