PharmRight and Zipit Wireless are teaming up to boost PharmRight’s Livi medication dispensing system.
PharmRight, a health tech group focused on helping those with complex medication regimens, has brought Livi into the “Internet of Healthy Things.” Livi can store and manage a 90-day supply of up to 15 different, oral, solid medications.
The device offers internet-enabled remote monitoring and prompts users to take the correct medication on time.
Zipit, which offers connected platform and managed services products, has built a cloud application for Livi, which monitors user interactions with the device. Those data can be used to send alerts to family members or caregivers in the event of a missed dose or a refill need. Communication between the cloud and Livi is encrypted.
The platform also builds medication adherence reports that are aimed at collaboration between the individual patient and their care team.
To use Livi, medication orders are entered over the cloud using an application on a mobile device or web browser. The container is then configured for the specific pill size and shape.
Users then add the contents of the pill bottle into one of the Livi containers. The device then gives prompts to the user. Livi will then dispense the proper medication at the proper time, and offer the instructions needed for the user to take them.
For those non-pill medications, Livi offers reminders. Users can also adjust dosage or medications in real time on LiviWeb.
When a medication is refilled, users just need to add the pills to the assigned container and Livi will continue to dispense the meds in the same quantity at the same time.
The Livi website boasts the simplicity of the device, and explains that it was built with ease-of-use in mind. To aid in the endeavor, the device has large buttons, a bright display and an easily accessible cup where medications are dispensed. PharmRight also claims the web application is easy to navigate and offers a simple set-up field for the device.
The announcement also noted that, due to the IoT platform being connected on a nationwide U.S. cellular network, setup is simple and free from home network connectivity complexities.
"Our vision is to empower individuals to live more independently than ever before, while providing next generation tools to enable caregivers to provide better care,” Bill Park, president and CEO of PharmRight, said in the announcement. “The Zipit platform accelerated our time to market and reduced the complexities of bringing a secure, Internet-enabled device to market."
Frank Greer, CEO of Zipit, noted that PharmRight is a solid example of the power the Internet of Things has to solve real-world issues.
- here's the press release
- and here's the Livi website