Adherence Packaging Solutions | Jones Healthcare Group — Jones Healthcare Group

The Solution.

Adherence Packaging

Adherence packaging represents a new strategy aimed at enhancing medication compliance. This packaging comes in many forms, including pill organizers, single or multi-dose blister packs, or electronic dispensers.

Pill Organizers

Pill organizers are containers divided into compartments for each day of the week. The organizers make it easy for patients to visualize what medications they have taken that day, and which ones they have not. This can reduce the likelihood of missed doses or overdose. However, patients or caregivers must fill the organizers themselves, which requires a certain level of health literacy and adherence¹⁴.

Unit-Dose & Multi-Dose Blister Packs

Single/unit or multi-dose medication packages offer another method to promote medication adherence. These are also known as compliance packaging, bubble packaging, blister cards or blister packs.

The packaging is labelled with medication information and includes a series of compartments (or blisters) organized in a calendar format. Each compartment contains pills patients should take together.

Blister packs eliminate the need for patients to fill their organization devices themselves, as pharmacies fill the packs with a high level of quality control and accuracy. A patient can then pick up their pre-filled blister packs that are immediately ready for use.

This can make it easier for patients, especially those who may be elderly or have cognitive dysfunction, to remember to take their medication. Pharmacies can also synchronize these packages so patients can fill their prescriptions all at once.

Blister packs eliminate the need for patients to fill their organization devices themselves

This method removes much of the confusion associated with adherence, including when to take medication, how many pills to take, and when to refill a prescription¹⁵.

Experts design adherence packages so instructions are clear and simple. The packs organize medications by time of day, including morning, noon, dinner, and bedtime doses. They also specify the day of the week the patient should take the medication.

Many times, community pharmacies will implement adjacent services to further drive adherence. For example, pharmacies may make phone calls to confirm dosing regimens or troubleshoot drug issues. Research supports the benefits of these packaging techniques on patient adherence, including improvement in MPR¹⁴.

Electronic Medication Monitors

Electronic medication monitors are another form of adherence solution. These monitors can maintain a record of when patients opened a bottle, dispensed medication, or activated a device. Using these data points, providers and caregivers can assess adherence¹.

These reminders and notifications help patients stay on track with full support from their care teams.

Electronic adherence packaging with notification capabilities is becoming more widely available today to help patients stay on track, with full support from their care teams. These blister packs detect whether a specific medication compartment has been opened within an adherence package through the use of transmitting printed electronics. If the patient opens the compartment on schedule, a text message notification is sent to a caregiver or healthcare provider to confirm the patient has accessed the medication. If the patient has not opened the compartment on schedule, a reminder can be sent to the patient, and a notification can be sent to a caregiver or healthcare provider to alert them of the missed dose.

**Electronic Adherence Packaging**

These blister packs detect whether a specific time pass has been opened within blister pack through the use of transmitting printed electronics.

This type of electronic adherence packaging has been shown to be effective for older adults living with chronic conditions who are managing complex medication regimens at home. The packaging was also shown to provide peace of mind and relief for older adults, as well as their loved ones and care networks¹⁶.

Electronic adherence packaging provides insights beyond refill behaviour and into dose-by-dose adherence

Another form of technology-enabled adherence packaging uses NFC tags to support patient adherence. After a patient takes a dose from an adherence package, they can tap the NFC tag on the package with their smartphone to alert care teams they have taken medication or access a range of support and educational information. This is a lower-cost alternative to electronic adherence packaging.

Overall, the use of technology to more directly measure adherence provides pharmacists, healthcare providers and the healthcare industry at large insights beyond refill behaviour and into dose-by-dose adherence.

The Power of Medication Adherence Packaging

The Solution.