Keeping track of multiple medications can be challenging, particularly if they aren't all simple one-a-day doses. That's why South Carolina-based PharmRight Corporation has developed Livi. It's a cloud-connected pill dispenser that can manage a 90-day supply of up to 15 medications at once, letting users know when to take what, and letting caregivers know if they miss a dose.
Users start by emptying the contents of their pill bottles into Livi's multiple internal containers, then follow the prompts on its screen to set up the dosing schedule for each one. Once the machine is up and running, it will dispense the proper amounts of the proper pills at the proper times, letting users know when it's done so via audible and visual cues.
In the case of medications that can't be stored onboard (such as liquids, creams or refrigerated items) Livi will still tell users to take them, via messages on its screen.
Should a dose be missed, caregivers will be notified by text message or email. The subsequent dosage can then be adjusted to make up for it using PharmRight's LiviWeb online portal – this means that no one has to come and adjust the machine itself, but can instead just alter the commands it receives.
Similarly, if a caregiver wishes to discontinue or increase the dosage of a patient's medication, they can do so from their own computer or mobile device. Additionally, when the machine starts running low on any of the medications, both patients and caregivers are notified that it's time to get more.
PharmRight is currently taking inquiries from prospective customers, and says that Livi should be commercially available later this year at a subscription price of US$100 per month. Once it hits the market, it may face some competition from the similar Lumma dispenser.
Source: Livi