RxReminders by Pageminder is a healthcare outcomes improvement company assisting people to follow complex medical and self-care regimens through a program of regimen review and automated reminders.
RxReminders conducts comprehensive regimen evaluations, making sure the regimen is in compliance with physician directions
by documenting the regimen as actually carried out by participant including OTC and natural remedies and comparing to physician directions.
RxReminders interviews participants to identify barriers to compliance
through analysis of schedules, daily habits and cues, and organizational skills.
RxReminders develops an individualized adherence strategy to improve the participant’s ability to follow
the self-care plan
by addressing gaps between prescription and performance with organization guidelines; tailoring regimens to patient’s schedule and lifestyle; reinforcing importance of compliance; simplifying regimen where possible; taking into account disabilities
RxReminders provides appropriate reminder devices and training
considering user abilities and resources as well as lifestyle; and providing appropriate training to avoid frustration with the selected device.
RxReminders offers guidance to family members and caregivers to encourage participants
by supporting the plan and reinforcing importance of regimen adherence
Case Studies
John Goes From Skeptic to Advocate
John N., a disabled former cook with unstable diabetes reports that six times in the year prior to starting with RxReminders, he lost consciousness and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was treated in the emergency room and intensive care unit. On one of these six occasions, the ambulance bill was $1900 and the hospital bill was $121,000.
John had some misgivings about receiving reminders, but after beginning reminders, his diabetes has stabilized for more than a year; his number of medications has decreased from eleven to four; he feels better and has had no further incidents requiring ambulance, emergency department and intensive care.
John has become an advocate for the RxReminders program, speaking with other tenants in his apartment complex, through a local home health agency and meeting with leaders of the state legislature to endorse continued support of the reminders program.
Single Mom with Multiple Chronic Conditions Benefits from Regimen Reminders
Kim S. is a single mom of a teenage daughter. She suffers from several chronic conditions including diabetes, asthma, hypertension, high cholesterol, back spasms and migraines. Her daily schedule is dominated by her self-care regimen. She does blood tests and takes insulin four times daily; takes two nebulizer treatments daily’ self-administers two electrostimulation treatments and takes sixteen other medications at four other times daily.
Due to her chronic conditions, she has frequent medical appointments with different specialists for each of which transportation needs to be arranged.
Kim is intelligent, has good organizational skills and recognizes the importance of a high level of adherence to the regimen of tests, treatments and medication. Despite these personal characteristics, her health status has put her on the verge of trouble with little room for error.
Kim considers her reminders to be a godsend. “This is just what I needed,” she says. She reports feeling less stress and more confidence in meeting her self-care responsibilities. She is still ill and faces many challenges, but has improved her compliance and is feeling better.
Man Maintains Independent Living
Jerry W. is a 58-year old who has been diagnosed with diabetes, asthma, arthritis, severe allergies and coronary problems. He is cognitively impaired and has limited mobility. Jerry receives weekly home nursing visits and is telemonitoredfor pulse, blood pressure and other vital signs. He receives intensive case management and benefits from a particularly involved primary care physician.
Jerry also has very strong family support from his sister and brother-in-law. They provide care on evenings and weekends, but they are both employed and that leaves a weekday gap.
During the thirty days prior to enrollment in the wireless reminders program, Jerry had seven trips to the emergency department and one hospitalization. His ability to remain in his home was in serious jeopardy.Despite initial difficulties in establishing a proper regimen and overcoming cognitive barriers to the use of the device, Jerry eventually was able to master its use and to properly respond to its cues.
Jerry avoided returns to the hospital and the emergency room since adding the reminders program, the last piece in the puzzle that included case management, telemonitoring, home visits, actively involved primary care physician and strong family support. Jerry’s ability to live independently has been extended.