Contest to use technology to take meds

The US Department of Health and Human Services announced the three winners of a contest to use technology to remind patients to take their medications. The winners of the Managing Meds Video Contest all have different ways of using health technology such as phones and the Internet to help them remember to take their medications. The contest was sponsored by the HHS' Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the National Consumers League-led Script Your Future campaign. The winning videos are available for viewing at managingmeds.challenge.gov. "The winning contest entries revealed that there are many technologies, particularly mobile apps, which help remind people to take their medications," Erin Poetter of Office of the National Coordinator's Office of Consumer eHealth said in a statement. "Our hope is that people will watch these videos and be inspired to use technology to take their medications as prescribed to achieve better health." Adherence in taking medicines is a growing public health issue, for individuals and for the nation's healthcare system. Taking medications as directed -- the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time -- can improve health and quality of life, especially for people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, HHS officials said. Poor medication adherence costs Americans an estimated $290 billion per year, the HHS said.