1. Quick Facts
2. What is medication Non-Compliance ?
3. Are you at risk ?
4. A medication reminder service, what for ?
5. Who needs the M-PILL service ?

1. Quick Facts

Compliance - which means taking the right amount of the prescribed medicine at the right time - is being recognized as a major problem in healthcare today. It is more costly and more serious than a number of major illnesses. Studies have provided the following facts:

 More than 125,000 Americans die each year due to prescription medication non compliance, twice the number killed in automobile accidents.

Every day, prescription non compliance costs more than $270 million in additional hospitalization and other medical costs.

9 out of every 10 outpatients are taking prescribed medicines improperly, contributing to prolonged or additional illness.

People who miss doses need 3 times as many doctor visits as others and face an increased medical costs

When prescriptions are written,

• 1/3 of patients take the medicine as directed
• 1/3 take some of the medicine
• 1/3 never fill the prescription

 Almost 60% of the prescription medication non compliance problems could be prevented by improving compliance

At any given time, regardless of age group, it is estimated up to 59% of those on five or more medications are in noncompliance.

10% of all hospital admissions are the result of prescription medication noncompliance.

23% of all nursing home admissions are due to failure to take medications accurately.

(Sources: National Pharmaceutical Council and American Hospital Association)

2. What is medication Non-Compliance

Noncompliance is simply taking your medicine—or not taking it as the case may be—in any way that differs from the way your health care provider prescribed it to be taken.

Noncompliance can result in consequences ranging from unpleasant side effects of the medication to exacerbated symptoms of the condition it was being used for, or even ineffectiveness of the medication

Common non-compliance errors include:

• forgetting to take your medicine when you are supposed to,
• discontinuing taking your medication prematurely,
• not filling or refilling a prescription,
• taking the incorrect dosage,
• double dosing- taking two pills to make up for a skipped one,
• combining your medication with an inappropriate food or beverage.

3. Are you at risk ?

• Do you frequently skip dosages ?
• Do you often forget to take your medication ?
• Do you rely on someone else to dispense your medication ?
• Do you discontinue your medication before the prescription has run out ?
• Do you forget to fill or refill your prescription ?

4. A medication reminder service, what for ?

• Helps prevent relapses
• Can speed recovery
• May reduce costs
• Can improve quality of life and even prolong or save life

5. Who needs the M-PILL service ?

Those persons using irregular medication such as vaccines, antibiotics or regular medications for, but not limited to, the following medical conditions :

• High Blood Pressure
• Heart Disease
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Women on Estrogen Therapy
• Allergies
• Diabetes
• AIDS
• Anyone taking three or more daily prescriptions
• Contraception