MediSafe Project announced today that it has launched what appears to be the first-ever cloud-synced mobile health app. The app itself is also called MediSafe Project, and is specifically designed to accomplish two critical things. First, it gives families a direct way to prevent emergencies that would otherwise be caused by the over- or under-dosing of medications. This has long been a healthcare issue and the company believes that it has found the way to finally solve the issue – at least if you own a smartphone.
The MediSafe Project mobile app – which was directly inspired by the accidental insulin overdose of the co-founders’ father - doesn’t stop there however – and this is where it distinguishes itself as a first. It not only reminds users when it’s time to take their medication, but just as importantly – in fact more importantly, it will also send alerts to selected family members, friends and other appropriate caretakers whenever a loved one, patient or healthcare client misses a medication dose.
But the real “killer” in this mobile healthcare app (which would otherwise not be nearly as important) is that it has since evolved from its first iteration into becoming a complete ecosystem of patients, families, doctors, drug stores and pharmaceutical companies. That cloud-synced ecosystem is targeted to help solve the larger, hazardous and costly problem of medication non-compliance.
To do so, MediSafe Project also aggregates patient behavior data, physician trends and other market elements. That aggregated data is then made available to help pharmaceutical companies better understand how people receive and take their medications. The company hopes that the app will lead to lower hospitalization and mortality rates, promote sustainable behavior changes that prolong health, decrease long-term healthcare costs and help pharmaceutical companies understand patients’ barriers to medication compliance.
The app itself is simple to use, and is now available as a beta app for all Android devices. The company now also has an early alpha version of the app on the Apple App Store for both iPhones and iPads. MediSafe Project expects a final release of the app early in 2013.
MediSafe Project CEO Omri ‘Bob’ Shor says that, “An American dies every nineteen minutes from skipping medication or taking meds incorrectly, and the problem costs U.S. hospitals $100 billion every year. MediSafe Project 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 Project also has major “big data” implications, especially for pharmaceutical companies. From anonymous demographics, geolocation and patient behaviors to physician trends and other market aspects, MediSafe Project’s broad analytics will, the company strongly believes, help pharmaceutical companies better understand how people receive and take their medication.
Shor continues, “The dashboard is able to show which demographics have higher non-compliance for a drug compared to the general population, the doctors or areas that have the lowest prescription rates with a city, competitive drugs patients are switching to, and so on.”
The company notes that it is currently in discussions with several major pharmaceutical vendors, and Shor expects partnership deals to begin closing when MediSafe Project exits Beta status in 2013.
Initial launch features include the following:
- Visual, Easy-to-use User Interface: The app’s homescreen resembles an interactive pillbox. Users can customize different meds to look like different pills, and the center MediSafe logo turns into a mouth swallowing meds when users signify taking medication by dragging preconfigured pills into it.
- FDA Drug Database Compatible: Users can type in medications’ generic or brand names, or take pictures with their devices’ cameras of the FDA’s universal National Drug Code (NDC) number – included on all original pharmaceutical packaging – and the correct pharmaceutical name, manufacturer and medication strength will automatically be recorded, ensuring an error-free medication list in the event of a medical emergency.
- Prescription Refill Alerts: Users receive alerts before medication courses are completed, allowing them to order prescription refills for medications taken chronically.
- Privacy Protections: Syncing medication schedules with caretakers is optional. Aggregated usage statistics are anonymous. Viral sharing is limited to e-mail.
MediSafe Project is currently available as a free download in Google Play and iTunes App Store.
Edited by
Brooke Neuman
