Artificial Intelligence Learns to Focus on Medication Compliance by Studying Poor Compliance Habits
In an innovative move, Ohio-based specialty pharmacy, Gentry Health Services, has rolled out a technology platform designed to connect patients with peer support for medication management. This platform, which is poised to revolutionise the healthcare industry, is a collaboration between Gentry Health and Pleio.
At the heart of this platform is OLLIE, an AI tool developed by Gentry Health. OLLIE analyses patient phone conversations to gather clues about medication adherence, focusing on the overall patient vibe, friction points, tipping points, and preferences to shape prescription decisions and adherence.
The deployment of ambient AI tools, such as OLLIE, is increasing at a rapid pace to capture interactions between patients and their healthcare providers. This technology is not only limited to the healthcare sector but is also being used in mental health, emergency care, substance abuse, and suicide hotlines, evolving to assess data and then be trained on emotion.
Ambient AI tools like OLLIE are filling a critical gap in understanding patient experiences. They provide insights that patients often find difficult to express to care providers, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to healthcare.
The GoodStart Program, another initiative by Gentry Health and Pleio, is a testament to this approach. The program reaches out to patients as soon as a new prescription is added to the database, aiming to help patients understand medication management and address any concerns about those drugs.
Early results of the GoodStart and OLLIE interventions have been promising. They show a boost in total average fills, patient volume, and portion of days covered (PDC), a patient adherence measurement. This increase in adherence rates is significant as non-adherence to medications can lead to wasted drugs, adverse health outcomes, hospitalization, and even death.
The specialty pharmacy market, which accounts for more than half of the total drug spend, is expected to grow as the number of people with complex and multiple chronic conditions increases. In 2023, the specialty pharmacy market was valued at over $68 billion, a testament to its growing importance.
Gentry Health is not only focusing on expanding its platform to cover a wider range of drugs but also targeting medications with especially difficult adherence rates, such as injectables. The company could also launch programs that target patients with low adherence rates or those who have "fallen off therapy," helping to identify better medications or treatments that might improve compliance.
In conclusion, the introduction of AI tools like OLLIE by Gentry Health is a significant step towards improving medication adherence and, consequently, patient outcomes. As the specialty pharmacy market continues to grow, we can expect to see more innovations in this field, making healthcare more accessible and personalised for patients.
