Pill organizer: Difference between revisions
Removed extra "<" still sitting there from previous edit. |
m Fixed spacing error. |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Pill box with pills.JPG|right|thumb|300px|A pill organizer]] |
[[File:Pill box with pills.JPG|right|thumb|300px|A pill organizer]] |
||
A '''pill organizer''', '''pill container''', or '''pill box''' is a special container for storing scheduled doses of one's [[medication]]s. Pill organizers usually have square shaped compartments for each day of the week, although other discreet forms have come to market in recent times, including cylindrical and pen-shaped cases. |
A '''pill organizer''', '''pill container''', or '''pill box''' is a special container for storing scheduled doses of one's [[medication]]s. Pill organizers usually have square shaped compartments for each day of the week, although other discreet forms have come to market in recent times, including cylindrical and pen-shaped cases.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4iSoMzkwStMC&pg=PA244&dq=%22pill+organizer%22&as_brr=3&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html |title=American Medical Association Guide ... - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/0612/not-taking-your-medicine-on-schedule-find-the-right-reminder.aspx |title=Not Taking Your Medicine on Schedule? ... - Everyday Health |publisher=everydayhealth.com |date= |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref> Some have sections for different times of the day. Pill organizers are viewed as a way to prevent or reduce medication errors on the part of the patient.<ref>http://www.hsvvoice.com/news/2008/0820/health_news/161.html</ref> |
||
Pill organizers are useful for all types of patients, including the elderly and others with memory deficiencies, and for those taking multiple medications as an aid in remembering to take proper doses of their medications. They allow a patient to know whether or not they have taken a particular dose of their medication, since if a pill still remains in its compartment, it shows that it has not been taken, whereas if it is missing, it has been taken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=X_z3FF5WSU4C&pg=PA210&dq=%22pill+organizer%22&as_brr=3&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html |title=Heart to heart, a personal plan for ... - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dentalplans.com/articles/1055/ |title=At-Home Accidents - How to Prevent and Treat at-home Accidents |publisher=Dentalplans.com |date=2005-06-21 |accessdate=2011-04-10}}</ref> |
Pill organizers are useful for all types of patients, including the elderly and others with memory deficiencies, and for those taking multiple medications as an aid in remembering to take proper doses of their medications. They allow a patient to know whether or not they have taken a particular dose of their medication, since if a pill still remains in its compartment, it shows that it has not been taken, whereas if it is missing, it has been taken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=X_z3FF5WSU4C&pg=PA210&dq=%22pill+organizer%22&as_brr=3&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html |title=Heart to heart, a personal plan for ... - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dentalplans.com/articles/1055/ |title=At-Home Accidents - How to Prevent and Treat at-home Accidents |publisher=Dentalplans.com |date=2005-06-21 |accessdate=2011-04-10}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 16:22, 13 July 2012
A pill organizer, pill container, or pill box is a special container for storing scheduled doses of one's medications. Pill organizers usually have square shaped compartments for each day of the week, although other discreet forms have come to market in recent times, including cylindrical and pen-shaped cases.[1][2] Some have sections for different times of the day. Pill organizers are viewed as a way to prevent or reduce medication errors on the part of the patient.[3]
Pill organizers are useful for all types of patients, including the elderly and others with memory deficiencies, and for those taking multiple medications as an aid in remembering to take proper doses of their medications. They allow a patient to know whether or not they have taken a particular dose of their medication, since if a pill still remains in its compartment, it shows that it has not been taken, whereas if it is missing, it has been taken.[4][5]
Pill organizers often have various features that make them easier for those with special needs to use, such as color-coding, braille for the blind, or a locking mechanism to prevent double dosing.[6] Some used for diabetes patients have sections for insulin and syringes.
Some pharmacists will place pills in pill organizers for their patients.[7]
Electronic pill organizers
Some pill organizers have alarms to alert patients when doses need to be taken.[6]
More recently, electronic pill organizers have been invented that alert patients when their medication must be taken. These have been credited with saving lives and saving a lot of money in the health care system.[8] These can be linked via the internet to a medical facility to aid in reminding a patient to take his/her medications.[9]
Pill organizers are commonly used to serve medical purposes, but it is also used to help individuals, be that the elderly or chronically ill, take their prescription medication, OTC medication or daily supplements at a given date and time. There are "telehealth" products in the health care industry such as automated or electronic pill boxes that function to alert the patients when it is time to take their medications.
References
- ^ "American Medical Association Guide ... - Google Books". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ "Not Taking Your Medicine on Schedule? ... - Everyday Health". everydayhealth.com. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
- ^ http://www.hsvvoice.com/news/2008/0820/health_news/161.html
- ^ "Heart to heart, a personal plan for ... - Google Books". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ "At-Home Accidents - How to Prevent and Treat at-home Accidents". Dentalplans.com. 2005-06-21. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ a b "Tools and Techniques for Visual Impairment (Page 5)". Diabetes Self-Management. 2007-01-30. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ Friday, November 14, 2003 - Page updated at 04:01 P.M. (2003-11-14). "The Seattle Times: Local News: Stakes high to help those with chronic diseases". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "University Of Montreal Students Design Argus, A High-tech Pill Organizer - Could Help Save Lives And Money". Medicalnewstoday.com. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ Kirsner, Scott (2009-08-30). "New gadgets prod people to remember their meds - The Boston Globe". Boston.com. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |