An aging population and the smart home seem to go hand in hand, and as we covered last week, there are a number of products being launched to address the needs of those who want to remain independent in their old age. One such product announced this week is the MedMinder pill dispenser, which is now powered by Gemalto’s wireless technology.
The technology in question is Gemalto’s Cinterion PHS8 M2M module, which provides cellular connectivity for the MedMinder. The dispenser tracks medication intake, sends medical alerts, orders new prescriptions and claims to improve patient compliance.
The mHealth device links patients and caregivers, be they professionals or family members, and should allow forgetful elderly patients to independently manage their medication ‘ reassuring the caregivers and reducing the cost of home visits and supervision. MedMinder says this ‘enables seniors, the chronically ill, and those with disabilities to maintain their independence and avoid long-term care facilities and hospitalization.’
The MedMinder dispensers come in two flavors, called Maya and Jon, and resemble a traditional 7 day pill tray (28 compartments). An upgraded version of both trays is available at a higher monthly cost with a pendant and watch that provides a medical alert and communication service. The Maya version is an unlocked version but Jon is a locked and secure unit that will ensure that patients can only access the correct dosage at the right time.
When it is time to take medication, the appropriate cup in the tray will flash. If the cup is not removed within a designated time frame, the patient will receive a reminder, which can be sent via text message, email or phone call. An emergency two-way voice communication through the watch or pendant can be used if rapid intervention is required.
Caregivers are able to log into a web interface to manage and monitor the service, which is protected by Gemalto’s M2M experience. Secure communications are conveyed by the PHS8 module which Gemalto claim is ‘the slimmest M2M module on the market, and ideally suited to MedMinder’s compact solution,’ according to Gemalto’s Paul Kobos.
Kobos added ‘with an aging population and growing need for chronic care management, Gemalto technology impacts patient’s day-to-day care while protecting data, and can be seamlessly integrated into other healthcare IT systems.’
MedMinder CEO Eran Shavelsky says ‘the Gemalto M2M solution allows for secure 24/7 automated communication between the pill box, patient, doctor and medical alert monitoring center depending on the urgency of the situation. This technology offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness with the option to add features and expand capabilities in the future without having to redesign the device.’
The home health technologies market is expected to grow to $12.6 billion in 2018 from $5.7 billion in 2013, according to an IHS report. The market is comprised of 6 distinct segments, including independent living services, consumer medical devices, telehealth, personal emergency response systems (PERS), wearables, and gaming that encourages healthy activities. The data collected by these devices will be used for analytics services that will inform healthcare decisions.
Gemalto claims to be the world leader in digital security, with 2013 revenues of $3.28 billion with 12,000 employees in 44 countries.