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ScripTalk

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ScripTalk is an audible medication label technology designed to give access to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or print impaired.[1][2] It consists of a device and a microchip attached to the bottom of a prescription drug bottle.[3] The label information is encoded on a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) electronic label (microchip) using the ScriptAbility software by a pharmacist and placed on the prescription package. ScripTalk prescription labels were introduced in the early 2000s.[3] As of 2020, the technology was applied through the United States and Canada.

Background

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In 1996, Philip Raistrick and David Raistrick founded En-Vision America, which is now based in Palmetto, FL. In 2000, the father and son invented and patented the Audible Prescription Reading Device and Labeling System for individuals who are visually impaired or print impaired.[4][5] Shortly thereafter, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began to test the technology for blinded veterans.[6] ScripTalk was approved for use by the VA in 2004 and began being integrated in VA hospitals across the US.[1][7]

In 2012, Walmart introduced the ScripTalk service through a pilot program.[8] and by 2019, the company was rolling out the ScripTalk service throughout all Walmart and Sam's Club locations and via mail orders.[9][10] Among other pharmacy and retail chains that have integrated ScripTalk are CVS, Costco, Albertsons, Kaiser Permanente, Veteran's Administration, Winn Dixie and more.[2][11][12] In February 2020, the ScripTalk technology was rolling out in Canada through Empire Company Limited, parent company to Sobeys, at its 420 pharmacy locations throughout the country, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, Farm Boy, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods and Lawtons Drug.[4][13][14]

A number of the states in the US, including Oregon and Nevada introduced laws obliging pharmaceutical companies to supply blind and visually impaired patients with the prescription reading devices such as ScripTalk.[15][16] The RFID ScripTalk label technology was granted a number of patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[17]

Technology

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The technology is designed for visually impaired people with the purpose to reduce risks for at-home medication errors, such as confusing medications, swallowing the wrong pill, ingesting expired medications, or missing a refill. ScripTalk consists of three main components: an Audible Prescription Reading Device (APRD) or ScripTalk Station Reader, radio-frequency identification (RFID) microchip label and supporting software.[18][19]

  • RFID microchip is encoded with the prescription data by the pharmacist and affixed to the bottom of the prescription bottle or package.[18]
  • APRD reads from the microchip prescription label information, including drug name, dosage, instructions, warnings, pharmacy information, doctor name, prescription number, and fill/refill dates.[4]
  • ScripTalk software runs HTML web pages with the prescription information on the PC.[18]

In 2019, the company also released ScripTalk Mobile app that runs on iOS and Android devices with installed Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to read ScripTalk Talking Labels without APRD.[20][21][22][23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Veterans Affairs chooses device to help blind read drug labels". The Washington Times.
  2. ^ a b "CVS Offering Braille, Audio, Large-Print Prescription Labels". The Wall Street Journal.
  3. ^ a b "New electronic device can read prescription labels for patients". Tulsa World.
  4. ^ a b c "National Pharmacy First to Offer ScripTalk Audible Prescription Labels to Blind And Low Vision Customers". Cool Blind Tech.
  5. ^ "Pill Bottles That Talk". ABC News.
  6. ^ Spektor, Tatyana; Nikolic, Nicole; Lekakh, Olga; Gaynes, Bruce I. (2015). "Efficacy of ScripTalk Automated Prescription Label Reader and Veterans with Visual Impairments". Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. 109 (5): 412–418. doi:10.1177/0145482X1510900511. S2CID 146573715.
  7. ^ "Audible Prescription Reading Device, March 2005" (PDF). The US Department of Veteran Affairs.
  8. ^ "Walmart Pilots ScripTalk Talking Prescription Program Through Walmart Mail Order And In Three Select Stores". Grocery Retail Online.
  9. ^ "Walmart and Sam's Club Set Standard for Providing Accessible Prescription Labels Across U.S." Walmart.
  10. ^ "ScripTalk device for visually impaired available in Walmarts nationwide". CBS19.
  11. ^ "Talking Prescription Labels: Spring 2016 Update". Law office of Lainey Feingold.
  12. ^ "Ed Markey". Senator Markey Queries Pharmacies on Prescription Drug Labeling to Aid the Blind And Visually-Impaired.
  13. ^ "Talking Prescription Labels' Availability Expands". Pharmacy Times.
  14. ^ "Empire introduces "talking" prescription labels". Canadian Grocer.
  15. ^ "New law requires pharmacies to provide "prescription readers" to blind patients". jefferson Public Radio.
  16. ^ "Talking prescriptions for the visually impaired is now a state law". 3News.
  17. ^ "En-Vision America". Justia Patents.
  18. ^ a b c "An In-Depth Look at the ScripTalk Station from En-Vision America". American Foundation for the Blind.
  19. ^ "Getting Your ScripTalk Prescription from a Brick and Mortar Pharmacy". Vision Loss and Personal Recovery.
  20. ^ "ScripTalk Mobile for iOS". CNET Download.
  21. ^ "Medical ScripTalk Mobile". APK Center.
  22. ^ "ScripTalk Mobile: Description of App". AppleVis.
  23. ^ "VA Director of Ophthalmology Services to Address BVA Virtual Session". Blinded Veterans Association.
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