Jitterbug + OnTimeRx Reminders = Great Combo!

KISS = Keep It Senior Simple!

Jitterbug has done an excellent job with their simple "senior-focused" cell phone.
OnTimeRx employs this concept in the design of our automated medication reminder service.
These two senior products are meant for each other!!

Life will be much simpler for the caregivers and family members when a senior is using these simple tools.
It provides peace of mind and is a stress-reliever to boot!

How Does Pre Stack Up?

According to a lot of chatter on Twitter and on a nursing listserv I follow, the Palm Pre is looking like the obvious choice over iPhone or Android. There's a Comparison Chart that's getting a lot of looks on Twitter and other places, and if those numbers are correct, the Pre will save nurses and other health care providers a lot more money in the long run.

The yearly service costs are less for the Pre, but an even bigger savings will be possible for medical/clinical users. Since the Palm Pre can run the MotionApps Classic emulator, it won't be necessary to buy all new software to get the specific funcionality that's needed in health care settings. Most of the trusty old Palm OS programs will still be useful and useable on this nifty new phone.

Many health care providers have invested hundreds of dollars in very specific programs for their particular areas of expertise. These targeted applications include drug databases for various geriatric, pediatric, and diabetic specialties; and there are dosage calculators, patient assessment tools, and yes, even my patient-focused medication reminder program, OnTimeRx.

We're "GO" for Launch!

The new Palm Pre phone (webOS) is in the final countdown for launch tomorrow - Saturday, June 6th, 2009.

This is also a very big day for OnTimeRx!

Not only will OnTimeRx run on the Palm Pre phone (with Classic emulator), it will run 2x as fast! The best part is, this will allow a whole new generation to experience the joys of using OnTimeRx software for medication management.

We didn't have to do a thing to our old reliable Palm OS program, which thousands of Palm PDA and smart phone users have been depending on for years. Now they can upgrade to the new Palm webOS operating system, and never miss a beat - or a pill.

OnTimeRx has been Certified Compatible with the Classic emulator, and we could not be more delighted.

Thank you, MotionApps, for this BRILLIANT Solution!

Palm Pre - Back to the Future

Palm OS - R.I.P. (Or... Reincarnation In Progress?)

As a Palm software developer, I've been greatly distressed by the demise of Palm OS. This is the trusted and reliable platform that made so many hand held devices do such marvelous things for nearly a decade.

Well, my friends, there is hope. I have just been informed that OnTimeRx software has been Certified for Compatibility by MotionApps and it will be able to run on the new Palm Pre (a webOS smartphone - launch date- June 6, 2009).

From the FAQ on MotionApps site:

Q: How can I install Palm OS app in Classic (on Pre)?

A: The installation of Palm OS apps is as straight forward as this:

1. Connect your Pre device with your PC using USB cable
2. Mount Pre device as USB drive
3. Navigate to ClassicApps folder
4. Copy .prc/.pdb file in the folder
5. Unmount Pre and start Classic
6. The application will be installed and ready for running

That sounds simple enough and is very good news indeed!!!

I am one of those passionate Palm-users who has bought and used many helpful and entertaining software programs over the years; and now it looks like I'll be able to continue to use them on this new operating system. I sure hope this Classic application/Palm OS emulator lives up to the hype, because it will really be one step backward and many, many steps forward into the future of hand help computing.

Way to go, Palm and MotionApps!

White House Forum on Health Reform

The Obama White House is using technology to gather public opinion on what's needed for changing Health Care for all Americans. I posted my opinion and my solution online yesterday.

Medication noncompliance is costing the US over $200 billion annually. It is also one of the primary reasons that thousands of Americans wind up in hospitals, emergency rooms, and ultimately in nursing homes.

After serving as Director of Pharmacy Services for 18 years in a 400+bed skilled care nursing facility, I left active pharmacy practice in 1996 to develop simple, affordable technology-based tools to help patients manage medications effectively and reduce some of this unnecessary expense. My company is 100% self-funded and totally dedicated to helping Americans maintain their independence and achieve a much higher level of medication adherence than the current 50%.

Interestingly, there is no need to wait until a totally integrated health care and information system is in place. Our simple stand-alone solution can save millions of health care dollars right now. Provide patients the tools and technology to better manage their own care and everyone will save money in the process.

My suggestion is that inexpensive existing technology solutions should be considered when looking for affordable ways to reform health care. OnTimeRx is a mature, feature-rich medication reminder software program that works on multiple devices: Palm, PocketPC, and Windows Mobile hand-held computers and smartphones, Windows XP and Vista, and now on the BlackBerry smartphone. This reminder solution was launched on the Internet in 2000, and at that time, it was "ahead of its time". Even so, there are thousands of users worldwide who are now able to manage the most complex medication regimens easily.

This reminder software is patient-focused, extremely intuitive, and users of all ages are quite capable of utilizing it on their own. VA Caseworkers have purchased OnTimeRx software, and the necessary hardware, for several VA patients over the years. This is an especially helpful tool for VA patients with traumatic brain injuries, ADHD, and other memory problems. For only a small one-time purchase ($22.95 or $34.95/patient) a practical investment in patient-centric healthcare reform could provide a measurable ROI. This same helpful medication manager works for patients of all types and ages, many of whom are struggling daily to follow their doctor's orders. By empowering hundreds of thousands more patients with the tools to successfully manage their own medications, many of them could avoid going to nursing homes - a far more expensive alternative to home health care and aging in place.

As I continue to age, I am using more health care services; but I can personally attest to the value of using technology to manage and maintain my own health. I invite the White House Forum on Health Reform to take a close look at this very affordable option.

One final thought: The single-payer system is getting a lot of attention lately, and it is definitely needed to facilitate the economical delivery of medications. This would allow pharmacists to get back to being pharmacists instead of insurance claims processors. By adequately reimbursing pharmacists to deliver Medication Therapy Management services and patient counseling, health reform can elevate the practice of pharmacy to expand its role in providing better preventive care, which results in major savings in the long term. When pharmacists can concentrate on helping patients achieve medication compliance and better therapeutic outcomes, instead of chasing after insurance reimbursement, the entire health care system will be healthier.

Tech vendors - large and small

One size never fits all!

That's true for panty-hose and it's especially true for IT solutions in the health care arena. There is no single solution for all that ails this industry, but some of us small vendors are trying to make a difference in small ways.

Thanks to Laurie Orlov @AgingTech on Twitter, I just learned that OnTimeRx was mentioned in Charles King's very prestigious Pund-IT Weekly Review, which offers unique insights on specific events affecting the IT industry and community.

Laurie Orlov was a guest analyst in the May 13, 09 issue dealing with technology solutions for aging in place, and OnTimeRx.com was mentioned as “The Prescription for Taking Medicine on Time”.

· Tech Vendors and the Aging in Place Market—Trying to Make a Difference By Laurie Orlov, Aging in Place Technology Watch

“As I try to make sense out of the aging in place technology market, new companies (or companies new to me) regularly surface. The following companies are all launched (or in beta) but are perhaps not well known in the marketplace as they could and should be. Here are some of them you should bookmark— all valuable solutions for boomers and seniors in need of improving technology access, personal experience or medical care…”

This obviously is my favorite part of her contribution:

• OnTimeRx – This vendor has been around for a while in the medication reminder space, but it is always worth thinking about in the context of the range of solutions required for this complex problem. Medication non-compliance is one of those thorny issues that gets lots of talk, many offerings, few of them light-weight (that is, without containers for the pills themselves). This company says it provides "the prescription for taking medicine on time"). It works on smart phones or can operate directly from a web-based portal to your cell or landline phone. Consumer. Learn more at: www.ontimerx.com.

Microsoft was also mentioned in this Review and - as big as they are - they don't have all the answers either. Apparently Bill Gates feels this seniors market is being under served; and in fact, Microsoft contacted my "little ol' software company" a couple of years ago. Now OnTimeRx for Windows (our desktop medication manager program) is included in all of their "SeniorPC" computer offerings, which are specifically geared for the senior and boomer market. There is a big promotion planned soon for the Senior PC to reach this market in the UK, too. OnTimeRx will be included in those systems as well.

It's really nice to be noticed and invited to the party by the Big Guys. Solutions for Aging in place technology... IT may really be a Small World After All.

Tech Solution for Tech Support

"Do you have a video demo for our products and services?" People frequently ask us that question and up until now, I've always had to "just say - No"!

It always felt like it would be too expensive to develop a video, but that was before YouTube exploded onto the scene. I have a webcam on my new HP mini 1000 Netbook now, and have been thinking about giving it a go, but am not sure how to make it look good enough for "prime time". It's important to always make a good first impression - and all that... But "he/she who hesitates..." loses out on a lot of opportunities these days.

Not being a programmer myself is both a good and a bad thing.

It's Good that I don't have my poor old brain overloaded with all that strange code jargon. But it's Bad that I don't know how to do some of this stuff for myself. Even though I'm a dyed-in-the wool "Do-It-Yourselfer", I have to pay others to do my programming and solve some of the problems for me or I have to rely on "the kindness of strangers" to help with Open Source solutions.

One of those stranger- solutions just came to my attention recently, and it's called CamStudio. I haven't installed the application yet; but already I know it's going to be a HUGE help. As a result, this blog piece will be just a bit short on details so I can get started on my latest learning adventure.

This is sure to be quite exciting and hopefully, it will help me eliminate some of the same tech support questions that OnTimeRx customers frequently ask. Guess that's why they call 'em FAQs...

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what's a demo video worth? We'll soon see.
IMHO - PRICELESS!!!