Medication Dissemination Project Utilizing Philips Medication Dispenser (PMD) Technology

Project Summary

To improve medication adherence and monitoring by diffusing an existing technology-based medication management program to new senior service providers and new service areas in order to improve medication use by older adults in California.

Technology

Philips Medication Dispensing Service to improve medication management.

Targeted Locations

Rural and urban areas in Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties.

Collaborators

• Home Health Care Management (HHCM)
• Eskaton
• Alternative Home Care
• Asian Community Center
• Visiting Nurse Association of the Inland Counties
• Aging Services of California (ASC)
• Philips Lifeline

12-Month Goals

• Successfully diffuse the medication management program utilizing PMD machines to four different provider types in four new geographic locations in California.
• Program participants demonstrate at least a 95% medication compliance rate with the use of the PMD machine resulting in a reduction in hospitalizations and emergency room visits.
• Informal caregivers of program participants report a decrease in caregiver burden within 4 months of placement of the PMD machine as demonstrated by use of Zarit Burden Interview.
• Participants report an increased quality of life through the use of the PMD machine when compared to their reported quality of life prior to placement of the PMD.

Older Adult Population

1st year: 100 older adult clients of the four (4) collaborating senior service providers.
5th year: 4000 older adult clients of the four (4) collaborating senior service providers.

Setting/Provider Type

Multiple senior living and home health agency providers

Measurable Outcomes

Medication compliance, quality of life, caregiver burden, hospital and emergency department utilization

Replication, Dissemination Plan

If successful, the project will demonstrate that HHCM’s existing program can be successfully adapted and replicated in four diverse older adult care settings. Caring Choices will provide information to develop a tool kit to help others develop a turnkey PMD program. ASC and others have committed to disseminate project findings via policy advocacy initiatives, websites, publications, and conferences.

Sustainability Plan

HHCM will train the four program partners to secure funding in order to sustain their programs beyond 12 months. HHCM has developed funding mechanisms (grants, 3rd party insurance payment) to sustain their program for the past 10 years.

Funding Request

$100,000

Matching Funds

$188,601