Minneapolis-based startup MyMeds has partnered with Mayo Clinic Global Business Solutions in an effort to improve medication adherence rates.
Through the alliance, MyMeds’ proprietary ACE (Adherence, Communication, Education) Medication Experience will include Mayo Clinic educational information about medications. In other words, patients enrolled in MyMeds’ platforms will be able to access medication-related educational content from Mayo Clinic.
Via email, MyMeds founder and CEO Rajiv Shah said the collaboration is effective immediately, but the content won’t be available until Q1 2019 when his company launches the updated ACE Medication Experience.
He added that this new alliance came about as an extension of the relationship MyMeds already has with Mayo, which allows members of Mayo Clinic Pharmacy Benefit Solutions to get free access to MyMeds.
Looking ahead, Shah envisions success in this new endeavor as addressing various facets of non-adherence.
“From a medical perspective, by providing people with education about their prescribed medications, underlying conditions and surrounding them with pharmacist-led teams, we believe that we are helping lay the groundwork for successful health outcomes,” Shah said. “From a business perspective, success will be measured by seeing growing numbers of MyMeds users engaging with Mayo’s world-class content to enhance their medication experience.”
Overall, MyMeds seeks to improve medication adherence rates, thereby helping patients have better healthcare outcomes.
Here’s how its solution works: The company’s cloud-based tool is available on Android, iOS and the web. On their user dashboard, patients can view a list of the medications they have to take. MyMeds will then send reminders (via mobile push notification, text message or email) when it’s time for the user to take their medications.
Using the solution, patients can then see whether they’ve taken all their prescriptions and track their progress over time. Additionally, users can invite a family member or friend to be notified when they’ve forgotten to take a medication.
The MyMeds platform also seeks to educate patients on their condition and why they need certain medications. Plus, users can harness the tool to communicate with pharmacist-led patient care teams.
The Minneapolis company partners with PBMs, health plans and employers to help cut costs related to medication non-adherence.
In 2017, it participated in the inaugural MedCity INVEST Twin Cities Pitch Perfect contest.
Several other organizations are also tackling medication adherence, albeit in different ways. This summer, Chicago-based Groove Health, which strives to improve medication adherence via analytics and patient engagement, raised $1.6 million in funding. Another startup, AdhereTech, which recently received a strategic investment from Argentum, is working on adherence by developing smart wireless pill bottles.
Photo: Stas_V, Getty Images
