New Gadgets Prod People to Remember Their Meds

The Boston Globe
August 30, 2009

...A study released this month by the New England Healthcare Institute, a Cambridge think tank, found that anywhere from a third to a half of all Americans don’t take their meds, or don’t take them at the right time or at the right dosage. The institute estimated that the result - which can include extra doctors visits and even hospitalization - costs $290 billion annually....

...Smart pillboxes “are going to be most helpful for the segment of the population that suffers from forgetfulness,’’ says Valerie Fleishman, executive director of the Cambridge think tank that conducted the study about the costs of not taking medications. “But there are other issues that affect people, like price sensitivity or cultural beliefs about medications or a patient who doesn’t feel her symptoms today, so she doesn’t take her pills.’’....

Link to Full Article: http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2009/08/30/new_gadgets_p…