Support for Aging

1

• Support for Aging
• in Place A Smart Medication Dispenser

2
The Research Team

• Mary McHugh, RN, PhD, UCHSC, National Chair,
  Nursing Informatics Certification Panel
• Rahmat Shoureshi, PhD, School of Mines, Director,
  Center for Artificial Intelligence
• Rob Valuck, PhD, UCHSC, Pharmacy
• Ruby Martinez, RN, PHD, UCHSC, Colorado
  Minorities Council

3
The Problem

• Elderly people may have a medication regimen that
  requires them to take 20 or more medications a
  day.
• Even for alert and oriented young people such a
  regimen is difficult to follow. But most elderly
  who require so many medications tend to suffer
  some cognitive impairment, even if able to live
  safely at home otherwise.
• If medication regimens are not followed, an early
  consequence is often increased confusion, leading
  to even poorer compliance with the medical plan.

4
Versatility of the Device

• Although initially to be tested on an elderly
  population, the device will be useful for any
  person who requires support for difficult
  medication administration regimens, such as AIDS
  patients, children or adults on complex cancer
  medications, or people whose cognitive deficits
  may lead to medication errors.

5
Specific Aims of the Study

• To complete development and device validation of
  the prototype Smart Medication Dispenser (SMD).
• To reduce medication errors made by elderly
  people
• To reduce the average number of acute
  hospitalizations and nursing home placements for
  elderly people

6
PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS

• Auditory alarms
• LCD screen with printed alarms
• Double Locking Mechanism
• Wireless Communication to Nurse Case Manager or
  Physicians Office

7
RESEARCH METHODS

• SAMPLE 200 people aged 75 and over. Subjects
  recruited from Larksfield Place in Wichita, KS
• Design Two group experiment with random
  assignment to treatment vs control group

8
RESEARCH METHODS

• Procedure Both groups have monthly visit from
  study nurse. Pill counts and patient interviews
  conducted for both groups. Control group uses
  daily plastic pill boxes. Study group receives
  SMD

9
EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Fewer medication errors
• Reduced number of hospitalizations
• Increased ability to remain living at home
  instead of requiring nursing home care

10
SCHEMATIC OF THE SMD
11
DETAIL OF BOTTLE COMPARTMENT
12
Sensor/Activator Configuration of Bottle
13
Inner Loop, Outer Loop and Supervisory Controllers