Hospital readmissions are a growing concern across the healthcare sector. They drive up costs, pressure hospital resources, and impact patient well-being.
One significant—and often preventable—reason patients return to the hospital is that they don’t follow their medication instructions properly.
Medication adherence software helps patients stay on track with their treatment and allows care teams to intervene when needed.
As healthcare continues to shift toward value-based care models, reducing preventable readmissions has become a key performance metric for hospitals and providers. Supporting patients beyond discharge is crucial for enhancing clinical outcomes and ensuring financial sustainability.
How Medication Adherence Software Can Prevent Hospital Readmissions
After being discharged, patients are usually sent home with several medications and instructions. But remembering what to take and when can be overwhelming—especially for older adults, patients with cognitive challenges, or those managing multiple chronic conditions. Even small mistakes—like skipping a dose or taking the wrong medication—can lead to complications that result in readmission.
Medication adherence technology helps prevent this by sending timely reminders, tracking medication intake, and notifying healthcare providers when a dose is missed. This enables care teams to intervene before small issues escalate into serious health problems.
Many platforms offer multilingual support, simplified visual cues, and easy-to-use interfaces, making them more accessible to a broader patient population. These tools are particularly valuable during care transitions—when patients move from hospital to home or to rehabilitation facilities—where the risk of miscommunication and non-compliance is highest.
The Connection Between Medication Adherence and Readmission Rates
Research consistently shows that poor medication adherence increases the risk of hospital readmission. For example, a study in the International Journal of General Medicine found that patients who didn’t follow their prescribed treatment after an acute heart issue were significantly more likely to be readmitted.
Non-adherence is not always intentional. It can stem from forgetfulness, a lack of understanding, side effects, financial constraints, or limited access to pharmacies.
Identifying the root causes allows care teams to offer targeted support, such as simplifying regimens, switching to generic alternatives, or connecting patients with financial aid resources.
On the other hand, improving medication adherence has a clear positive effect. That’s why healthcare providers are turning to medication management solutions to help patients stay consistent with their treatment and reduce the likelihood of hospital readmissions.
Key Features of Medication Adherence Software That Help Reduce Readmissions
Effective patient compliance software is designed to support both patients and care teams. Key features typically include:
- Reminders: Alerts via text, app, or automated calls to prompt patients to take their medication;
- Tracking Tools: Devices that monitor when doses are taken and notify care teams when doses are missed;
- Two-way Communication: Patients can ask questions or report issues quickly and easily;
- Analytics and Reporting: Helps providers spot patterns and respond proactively;
- EHR Integration: Ensures all relevant information is available to the entire care team.
Some platforms even incorporate gamification techniques—rewarding patients for consistent adherence—or utilize artificial intelligence to predict when a patient may require additional support. These innovative features can help increase engagement, especially among younger or tech-savvy patients.
Together, these features create reliable hospital readmission prevention tools that make a measurable difference in patient care.
Real-World Examples of Medication Adherence Software Improving Patient Outcomes
There are several examples of medication adherence technology making a real impact in practice:
- eCompliance: Used in tuberculosis care in Uganda, it resulted in a 55% cure rate, compared to 28.3% in the control group—and no dropouts, in contrast to a 7% default rate without the system;
- Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): A BMJ study evaluated RPM and found that it helped detect 30% more medication-related issues, reduced pain levels by up to 14%, and resulted in a 5% decrease in readmissions.
These examples show that the right technology can support better adherence, fewer complications, and improved overall care.
Best Practices for Implementing Medication Adherence Software to Minimize Readmissions
Getting started with medication adherence software takes some planning. To ensure a successful rollout and maximize impact, healthcare providers should consider the following:
- Understand Patient Needs: Choose tools that are easy to use and appropriate for your patient population's comfort level;
- Involve Your Care Team: Ensure all relevant staff members are trained and prepared to use the platform effectively;
- Provide Clear Guidance: Support patients and caregivers with onboarding and regular check-ins;
- Monitor Performance: Utilize the system’s data to identify issues promptly and adjust care plans as needed;
- Protect Patient Data: Collaborate with platforms that adhere to data privacy standards and maintain the security of sensitive information.
It’s also important to track key metrics over time—such as refill rates, missed doses, and readmission rates—to assess the solution's effectiveness and make evidence-based improvements.
When these best practices are in place, medication adherence tools can become crucial to a comprehensive long-term strategy to reduce readmissions and enhance patient health.
Conclusion
Medication non-adherence remains one of the most common—and preventable—reasons patients are readmitted to the hospital. The good news is that with the proper support, this issue can be effectively addressed.
