TabSafe - An In-home Medication Dispensing System Developed to Maintain Medication Regimens.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), two billion people will be over the age of 60 by 2050.

The elderly live surrounded by 21st century technology that shapeshifted the ways of modern life. More often than not, the elderly may feel excluded from the technological revolution, and feel that the digital age only takes young people into interest. The elderly are a uniquely and vitally important population to our healthcare system, and developments in medical technology have the potential to change not only their quality of care - but quality of life for the better.

As the fastest growing age group in developed countries, it is time that technology begins to cater to the unique characteristics of the elderly population especially within the scopes of medicine. The Medical Futurist explores the greatest technological developments for the aging population, highlighting key innovations relevant to elderly care.

TabSafe is an in-home medication dispensing system developed to maintain medication regimens. The medication management system dispenses various pills based on an automated and personalized schedule. According to a review in Annals of Internal Medicine, approximately 50% of prescription medications for chronic diseases are taken incorrectly. Similarly, The US National Library of Medicine (NCBI) estimates that approximately 1.5 million people every year are harmed each year from medication errors, costing at least $3.5 billion annually.

As aging carries its own set of challenges such as growing forgetful, elderly patients are at an increased risk for costly errors both physically and financially in medication management. Pill boxes and single dose packaging are not proven to be successful, schedules still often become confused and in turn medications are then less effective. With TabSafe, families can have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are taking their medications correctly as the system dispenses medications in the correct dose at the correct time every single day.

TabSafe will remind the patient several times within a specific time frame to take their medication, and will then send an alert phone call to an emergency contact such as a child or caregiver if a dose is missed. With authorized permission, doctors can see a record for the patient’s medication use which allows for accurate clinical data and improved communication between patients and clinicians.

With TabSafe, older adults can maintain their independence. Using TabSafe can save families thousands of dollars each month, as there are exorbitant costs associated with assisting living facilities and services - especially if medication management is one of the only reasons they have to be there.

TabSafe is easy to use and easy to fill on a regular schedule. It is an effective solution for managing medications and can accommodate even the most complex regimens. TabSafe has been successful in increasing medication adherence to over 96%, leading to increased wellness and independence for all patients.

References -

The Medical Futurist. “The Greatest Technological Developments for the Elderly in Healthcare.” The Medical Futurist, 6 Dec. 2021, https://medicalfuturist.com/the-greatest-technological-developments-for-the-elderly/.

da Silva, Brianna A, and Mahesh Krishnamurthy. “The alarming reality of medication error: a patient case and review of Pennsylvania and National data.” Journal of community hospital internal medicine perspectives vol. 6,4 31758. 7 Sep. 2016, doi:10.3402/jchimp.v6.31758

TabSafe Medical Services Inc. “TABSAFE - Automatic Medication Pill Dispenser.” TabSafe – In-Home Medication Dispensing System, TabSafe, https://www.tabsafe.com/.