Smart device reminds older adults to take their medication and monitors intake

At 78 years old, Maria has high blood pressure and needs to take seven different medications throughout the day at specific times. Her morning pill should be taken at 8 a.m., but she may forget. If her blood pressure is uncontrolled at her next appointment, it will be difficult to determine whether the issue is therapeutic failure or lack of adherence to treatment.

This hypothetical scenario plays out in millions of Brazilian homes every day. According to the 2019 National Health Survey (PNS), conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, poor adherence to drug treatment can have serious consequences, considering that the Brazilian older adult population makes extensive use of medications on a continuous basis.

Many older adults do not correctly follow medical prescriptions because satisfactory adherence requires considerable attention, memory, and organization. A 2022 scoping review by the University of São Paulo (USP) analyzed Brazilian studies conducted between 2011 and 2021. The review found that the prevalence of non-adherence among older adults ranges from 5.4% to 88.24%, depending on the population studied and the assessment method used.

This issue affects more than just individual health; when patients do not take their medication correctly, the entire healthcare system suffers. There are more hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and tests. A 2017 study by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) revealed that 14% of emergency visits at the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, were medication-related, including cases of non-adherence to treatment.

Brazilian solution

With this problem in mind, Fernando Bizerra, a pharmacist with a Ph.D. in health, created RenovatioMed and developed a simple device with embedded technology developed in Brazil. “It’s a smart medication organizer with an electronic board and sensors developed by RenovatioMed itself,” says the entrepreneur.

The device was supported by FAPESP under the Centelha program, a national initiative of the Brazilian Innovation Agency (FINEP), which is linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The agency’s mission is to stimulate innovative entrepreneurship and disseminate this culture among young people. In the state of São Paulo, Centelha is run by FAPESP.

These sensors collect data for analysis in the company’s app and platform. “Our device doesn’t depend on the patient or caregiver taking action in the app,” Bizerra points out. “We automatically capture access to medications through the organizer itself.”

The system also detects incorrect access. If a patient tries to take a medication outside of the scheduled time, the device emits a red LED light to indicate that the medication should not be taken at that time. This information is recorded and can be analyzed by the healthcare team.

This type of solution is not new, but few companies venture to create physical devices for monitoring. “There are few solutions of this type: it’s difficult to work with hardware,” reflects Bizerra. "Our focus is to avoid forgetfulness and prevent administration errors."

The organizer holds all the pills for one week (Monday through Sunday) and can be set for up to four different times throughout the day. “It emits audible and light alerts,” Bizerra explains. “The little jars with the medications turn green at the time of ingestion. When the medications are taken, we capture that information.” Thus, the system not only acts as a reminder but also records each patient’s action.

The solution addresses three critical scenarios: monitoring older adults and people with chronic illnesses at home, monitoring patients who leave medical or surgical procedures with a new therapeutic regimen, and monitoring high-cost medications, such as oral chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment. In the latter case, missed doses can represent thousands of dollars wasted, in addition to compromising the effectiveness of the treatment.

Real time

With the app, family members and patients can monitor the entire medication process in real time, including the list of medications, the times for each dose, and whether the medications are being taken correctly. They can also receive alerts if any medication is missed. “If, after 45 minutes, the patient hasn’t taken the medication, they receive a notification on their cell phone,” Bizerra explains.

The platform is even more robust for healthcare institutions, medical clinics, and health insurance providers. They can monitor all patients using the device globally and access information about each patient’s adherence. For each patient, detailed treatment and profile information is accessible.

According to Bizerra, user feedback has been positive. “They highlight the device’s ease of use and the improvement in the whole family’s routine.” However, the researcher acknowledges that the study needs to be expanded. “We have patients and family members who have had the device for over two years, and the system has worked without interruption or defect. This shows the robustness of the device,” he says.

One case report involved a diabetic patient whose blood sugar was uncontrolled. The family was unable to monitor her treatment, and they doubted whether she was taking her medication correctly. With the device, however, it was possible to verify that she was 100% compliant with the treatment and took her medication as prescribed. Since the tests showed that her blood sugar was above normal, the doctor felt confident modifying the treatment. “We were able to help the family, the patient, and the healthcare professional because the data was used to adjust the treatment.”

BRL 40 per month

RenovatioMed leases the device to both health insurance providers and individual customers. The monthly fee includes device rental, app access, and company support. Customers can contract the service directly with RenovatioMed. Currently, the startup serves about 50 patients.

During the validation phase, proof-of-concept tests were conducted on the UNIMED provider’s system with positive results. “We evolved from a prototype to a finished product,” says the researcher. The company has participated in innovation and development programs run by the federal and state governments. Headquartered in the São José dos Campos Technology Innovation Park, RenovatioMed is now seeking to commercialize the device on a large scale.