AT Focus A Publication for Local Branches of Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Lending Library Volume 7 • Issue 3 • Spring 2005 Inside this issue 1. • Asssitive Technology for Medication Management • Pill Box Timer-Clock •Pill Box Timer-Clock with Vibrator 2. •Pill Organizer & 4-Alarm Reminder •MedReady •Med-Time •MeDose 3. •Related Websites 4. •New Local Branches/Contact Info Assistive Technology for Medication Management When it comes to medication, most healthcare professionals are familiar with the Five Rights: Right patient, Right drug, Right time, Right dose, Right route. Professionals, family members, and people with disabilities are always looking for ways to make organizing and remembering to take medication easier. Basic pill boxes that are readily available from generic stores are often sufficient, but sometimes more help is needed. This issue of AT Focus profiles some of the tools for medication management that are available to borrow from Pennsylvania’s Assistive Technology Lending Library. Pill Box Timer-Clock This device is just 2” x 1” and has four separate 24-hour countdown timers to schedule four different medication times; a snooze alarm that repeats every 15 minutes; audio alarm plus LED visual alert; night muting from 11 pm to 7 am; child-proof pill dispenser door; removable partitions for two, three or four pill dosages; and a medical history label. Inventory Code: HP-PILL Cost: $10.00; Maxi-Aids: 800-522-6294, www.maxiaids.com. Pill Box Timer-Clock with Vibrator (Casio TMR-200) figure 2 - 3 This five-alarm clock has a five compartment pill case attached to the bottom (figure 2) and a wake-up alarm with snooze button (figure 3). The alarm can be set to beep, vibrate, or both, and the pill case can be separated from the clock section. Inventory Code: HP-PL-ALARM Cost: $35.00; Maxi-Aids: 800-522-6294, www.maxiaids.com. Pill Organizer & 4-Alarm Reminder (MEDGlider) The MEDGlider is a set of seven pill boxes that provides space for up to four pill times each day, and includes Talking Reminder. The Storage Tray allows the user to pre-plan an entire week’s medication. The Talking Reminder works alone, or slips securely onto the pill box so both can be carried together. The alarm can be set for as many as four times a day, and there are three alarm types including beeper, silent flashing light, or a gentle voice mode that says “Time to take your pill.” Inventory Code: HP-MEDALARM Cost: $40.00; Epill: 800-549-0095, info@epill.com, www.epill.com. MedReady The MedReady medication dispenser is designed for people with rigorous or complex medication regimens or those with compliance issues. MedReady holds 28 doses of dry medication such as pills or capsules in compartments designed to fit adult fingers. The pill compartments are “ramped” for easy removal of medication, and each compartment holds up to four or five vitamin-sized pills. The medication is under lock and key, not just a latch, making this device tamper-proof. The time of day is displayed, and the device can be programmed for up to four alarms per day. The alarm beeps (and the indicator light flashes) until the medication door is slid open, disabling the alarm. Only the most recent medication dose is available. If a dose is missed, the tray will advance to the next scheduled alarm, preventing double dosing and medication errors. Inventory Code: HP-MED-READY Cost: $155.00; Dynamic Living: 888-940-0605, www.dynamic-living.com. Med-Time Med-Time is a device for dispensing medicine, reminding the user when medicine needs to be taken, and making the correct dose available. The device holds 28 doses of medicine, and up to four alarms can be set. When the alarm sounds, the device makes the correct dose of medicine available, and all other medicine is inaccessible. Medicine is taken out by turning the device upside down, and that action also stops the alarm signal. (Figure 6 shows two views: on left, view of pill compartment; on right, device is closed.) Inventory Code: HP-MEDDISP Cost: $249.00; Epill: 800-549-0095, info@epill.com, www.epill.com. MeDose MeDose is a medication reminder watch that looks like a typical sports watch. It can be set for up to six alarms a day with either a sound alarm or a discreet vibrating alarm. The user must only set the alarms once and does not have to set it daily. Other features include a day/date calendar, count down/up timer, stopwatch, and large digital display. Inventory code: HP-VIBWATCH Cost: $100.00 Epill: 800-549-0095, www.epill.com. Related Websites: For more information about devices for medication management: http://www.abledata.comand http://www.assistivetech.net Both of these websites have information about many types of AT. For more about medication management, type “medication” in the search window. To research other types of AT, type a key word in the search window. You can also enter “medication management” into your favorite search engine. http://www.biausa.org/Pages/AT- Website for the Brain Injury Association of America. Once on the AT page, click on Med Reminders to see details on several options not in the AT Lending Library. Other vendors of devices for medication management: Elder Corner http://www.eldercorner.com Senior Shopshttp://store.yahoo.com/seniorshops Independent Living Aids http://www.independentliving.com Always remember to shop around for the best price! Welcome! New Local Branches: United Rehabilitation Services, Inc. 287 North Pennsylvania Avenue, PO Box 1344, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 Contact: Judy Orgie-Hoffer Voice: 570-820-8480 TTY: 570-820-9971 Fax: 570-820-9688 Email: urs4employment@aol.com Web: http://www.ursweb.org Serve: All County: Luzerne Hours: M-F 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Dr. Joel McGahen, OD, PC 422 Phoenix Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17201 Contact: Jennifer Galbraith, OD, MS Voice: 717-264-4012 Fax: 717-264-5745 Email: docjen@comcast.net Serve: All County: Franklin Hours: M-F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Dr. Joel McGahen, OD, PC 112 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268 Contact: Jennifer Galbraith, OD, MS Voice: 717-762-5811 Fax: 717-762-2011 E-mail: docjen@comcast.net Serve: All County: Franklin Hours: M-F 8:30 am -5:00 pm DuBois Senior & Community Center 120 W. Park Avenue, DuBois, PA 15801 Contact: Roxie Smith Voice: 814-371-4000 Fax: 814-371-3260 Serve: Adults Only County: Clearfield Hours: M-F 9:00 am - 1:30 pm DuBois Area Careerlink 20 N. Sixth Street, DuBois, PA 15801 Contact: Peggy Johnson Voice: 814-371-0250 TTY: 814-317-0250 Fax: 814-371-3729 E-mail:mbelin@state.pa.us Web: http://www.pacareerink.state.us Serve: All County: Clearfield Hours: M-F 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Lending Library Call toll-free: 877-PA AT LEND (voice/TTY) E-mail: atlend@temple.edu http://disabilities.temple.edu/atlend Editor: Sandra McNally mcnally@temple.edu215-204-3370 PA’s Assistive Technology Lending Library is funded by the Commonwealth of PA, with partial support from the US Dept. of Education (through PA’s Initiative on Assistive Technology) and through the contributions of AT vendors, manufacturers, and users of the Lending Library. This publication is available in alternate formats, by request. Institute on Disabilities Temple Universtiy 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue Ritter Hall Annex Room 423 Philadelphia, PA 19122 Spring is … new beginnings. …new growth. Do you know of any agency who may want to become a Local Branch of our Lending Library network ? Email Zona Jackson at zjackson@temple.eduto request a copy of the application.