What is Patient Compliance? How The Internet of Packaging Can Help

What is Patient Compliance?

Fantastic healthcare and great treatment for patients are only as good as the ability of the patient to follow recommended treatment regimens. More often than not, patients either fail to follow their doctor’s treatment orders, misremember directions, simply forget what they need to do to remain healthy. These issues can have serious consequences for the patient. It can make them sicker, put them at risk for a worsening condition, or even lead to death in some cases. For example, according to a study, “more than 40% of patients sustain significant risks by misunderstanding, forgetting, or ignoring healthcare advice.”

In order for a patient to achieve the best quality of life and survive their medical diagnosis, patient compliance in following medical order, regimens, and the like is essential. If not followed exactly as described and recommended by their medical professional there are not only mental and physical consequences, but it also presents a huge economic burden. It is estimated that non-adherence in the United States totals a whopping billion-dollar price tag at $13.35 billion. In addition to these costs, even worse is the fact that it is estimated 125,000 deaths happen each year due to patient non-compliance

IoT and Patient Compliance

Since IoT is designed to connect people to things, a logical step to improving patient compliance is through IoT technology. IoT can support effective risk management for patients and improve the lives of patients when they leave their doctor’s office. Smart devices can be used to content each patient to their doctor and doctor’s offices.

Personal healthcare devices can be used with patients with certain medical conditions. For instance, activity monitors, glucose monitors, smart scales, and other devices can keep track of patient’s vital signs and other important information. Not only can patients keep track of their information in relation to their diagnosis, but their doctor can also track how well they are doing, if they are sticking to healthcare regimen, or if something changes in the condition that need immediate attention.

There are a few companies that is taking patient compliance very seriously. Some have designed “smart pill bottles that use sensors to determine the quantity of medication in the bottle. The sensors transmit information to the company, which compares the data to the previous contents of the bottle and the patient’s prescription to determine whether or not the patient is adhering to the prescription.”

These smart pill bottles and other personal healthcare tracking devices are only the beginning for patient compliance and the integration of IoT in the industry. Although there are still many kinks to work out, designs to be improved, and patient’s to accept this new type of healthcare monitoring and compliance, we are well on our way to better healthcare, less non-compliance deaths per year, and less money lost.