Development of an automatic portable pill dispenser

Medication non-compliance has been a significant challenge faced by the healthcare industry, leading to deteriorating patient health and increasing healthcare expenses. Over the years, people have come up with numerous solutions, from having a medication container to keep their medication intact to modern-day solutions of automatic pill dispensing mechanisms; significant work has been put in to address this challenge that is still very much present in today's world. Therefore, to address this challenge, the automatic pill dispenser developed in this project is an innovative solution aiming to improve medication management for individuals taking a prescribed medication regimen. Integrating the advanced technology in this device provides a customizable reminder feature and portability, allowing the user to carry it around daily. This project's main objective is to advance toward a solution that improves patient medication adherence and enhances overall health outcomes. This automatic portable pill dispenser is expected to provide convenience and ease of use for the user while empowering users to take control and accountability for their health journey. This device allows healthcare providers and patients to communicate openly, ensuring treatment plans are followed effectively to maximize outcomes. One of the key findings through the interview conducted during regional I-Corps was the importance of customizable reminder feature, focusing mainly on elderly patients and their complex medication management schedules. Additionally, the portability of a device has been identified as a necessity that allows patients to have their medication available even when they are travelling or working outside the home. Though the testing of the product is yet to be conducted, the expected result of our automatic portable pill dispenser consists of increase in medication adherence with better medication management system while reducing the frequent hospital readmission due to nonadherence and enhance the overall quality of life of the patient. This also fills the gap between modern-day technology and healthcare while providing a practical solution that empowers patients and their healthcare providers to work together for effective treatment results.