Medication Dispensing Service | Philips Lifeline ®

How an Automatic Pill Dispenser Can Help

For Seniors

The Philips Automated Medication Dispensing Service can help seniors:

Take medication on schedule, from convenient pre-filled dosage cups
Reduce the risk of unplanned hospital or doctor visits related to incorrect medication use
Remain independent at home

For Caregivers

The Philips Medication Dispensing Service serves caregivers by helping them support loved ones when they can’t be there. It can help:

Reduce the risk of accidental over or under dosing when no one is there to help
Reduce the risk of unnecessary medical complications and unplanned hospitalizations
Maintain independence and peace of mind

Medication Errors are Common and Costly

Seniors rely on their medications to keep them healthy, but complex medication schedules can lead to mistakes: missing doses, taking incorrect amounts, or taking medicines at the wrong times. These mistakes could lead to unnecessary doctor or hospital visits, illness and even death.

For seniors, approximately 1 out of 10 hospital admissions are the result of the incorrect use of medications.
Not taking medications correctly can have serious consequences, including increased discomfort, inadequate disease prevention and possibly even death.

Helpful Service As Low As $59.95 Per Month

Patients who follow the directions of their doctors and pharmacists by taking their medications in the prescribed amounts at the right times can reduce the health risks associated with medication errors. In the area of dispensing adherence, the Philips Medication Dispensing Service shines with a dispensing adherence rate among monitored subscribers of 98.6 percent.

Features and Benefits of the Automated Medication Dispensing Service

Flexible dispensing for complex regimens

Dispenses up to 60 cups
Accommodates 1 to 40 days of medicine
Holds up to 6 doses per day
Reminder alerts for non-pill medications
Reminder alerts for instructions on taking meds
Optional early-dose feature

Safety features

Program for PRN (on demand) medications (the only system that offers this feature)
Locked cabinet that controls access
Rechargeable battery

Caregiver alerts provide peace of mind for caregivers

Receive alerts for:

Number of missed doses
Reminder when medication doses need refilling
Dispenser errors

Loss of electricity
View your loved one's activity through our Monitoring report available online, 24 hours per day

How the Automated Medication Dispensing Service Works

1. Load

You put the senior’s medications into individual cups and load them into the dispenser. Provide the medication schedule to Philips Lifeline and we will program the dispenser for you.

2. Dispense

The senior presses the button when they hear the reminder. The dispenser will dispense the medication that you have loaded for the senior, at the programmed times.

3. Alert

The dispenser is connected to the senior's telephone line, so if the senior misses a dose, the dispenser can contact you or another family member. You can then check on the senior to make sure they are getting their medication.

Why Medication Management

The Philips Medication Dispensing Service can help seniors who:

Have one or more chronic conditions
Take multiple medications or have complex medication regimens
- They may want to take medications properly
- They may have been hospitalized already for misuse of medication
- They are at risk for complications, hospitalizations, admission to facility for round-the-clock care
May have cognitive impairment

Have limited mobility and are at risk for falls
Require assistance with medication today

FAQs about the Automated Medication Dispensing Service

Will the dispenser work during a power outage?

Yes. The dispenser has a rechargeable battery that will provide up to 18 hours of backup power during a power outage. If the power has been out for 10 hours and there is an emergency situation (such as a hurricane or snowstorm) where the power may not be restored for hours or days, please call the Support Center for assistance. NOTE: If you have a phone system that does not operate during a power outage, the dispenser's automatic monitoring service will be disabled.

Is the Philips Medication Dispensing Service compatible with VOIP?

Yes. Just like the Philips Lifeline Medical Alert Service, the Philips Medication Dispensing Service is compatible with VOIP. "Non-traditional" phone services, like VOIP and other digital, broadband or internet-based phone services have important differences from "traditional" telephone services. Also, some of these new services have lower - and sometimes widely variable - reliability and quality of service. Your Philips Medication Dispensing Service depends on the reliability of your phone service. Contact Philips Lifeline for more information

Who loads medication into the dispenser?

The Philips Medication Dispensing Service is designed to assist people receiving help with medications today. Typically, people receive assistance from family, spouses or visiting nurses. Any of those individuals would be appropriate for loading medications.

Can two people in the same home use the dispenser?

No. Because medications are so important, each person in the home should have his or her own Philips Medication Dispensing Service to avoid errors with medication.

Can the dispenser hold liquid medication?

No. The dispenser should only be loaded with solid medications, however you may use a reminder message to alert you when it is time to take liquid medication.

What if the person using the dispenser is leaving home for an extended period of time?

The dispenser may be taken along. Simply unplug the dispenser and reconnect it in the new location. Then call the Support Center to reactivate the dispenser.

What if no one is home and the red button is not pressed when a message is announced?

The message will be repeated once a minute. After 90 minutes with no response, the dispenser will consider the dose missed and move the medication cup to the missed dose storage bin. NOTE: The Philips Medication Dispensing Service will stop operating if four doses are missed and the missed dose status is not cleared.

What if medications change?

Because medications do change, it is best to load only as many days of medication as makes sense for the user. For instance, if the user has a doctor's appointment in one week, you should only load 7 to 10 days' worth of medication. This will minimize the number of medications cups that will have to be changed.

What is the Monitoring Service?

The dispenser is remotely monitored via phone line. If the subscriber misses a dose, the dispenser automatically places an alert call to the caregiver, enabling the caregivers to respond quickly.

What customers are saying

Write a review

View all Reviews