Caregiver SmartTools - Improving Medication Management for the Elderly

描述（由申请人提供）：大量65岁以上的人需要协助管理他们的医疗保健。这种责任大部分落在老年人的亲属身上。随着我们的人口老龄化和医疗保健变得更加复杂和分散，家庭照顾者的作用变得越来越重要。研究表明，家庭成员往往没有准备好管理和协调可能涉及管理多种药物和服务类型的职责。因此，非常需要帮助照顾者管理老年亲属的医疗方案。基于web的服务在访问、定制个人培训需求和多维功能方面具有灵活性的优势。该项目的重点将是开发一个互动式网络程序，以帮助护理人员管理其老年亲属的药物管理和医疗护理。ISA联合公司将与专家顾问团队和Redmon集团合作，在项目的第一阶段开发和试点测试原型。第一阶段的主要目标是：(1)为开发能够满足护理人员各种需求的产品奠定基础；(2)确定最适合以高效率和有效的方式帮助护理人员的技术；(3)对该计划进行分析和测试，以促进我们对护理人员需求的科学理解和满足这些需求的最佳实践（在基于网络的干预措施中）。为了实现这些目标，安全管理局将利用其在制定与健康有关的干预措施方面的丰富经验，特别是针对妇女的SmartRx方案和针对健康工作场所的健康50岁以上方案。在第一阶段，ISA将进行两个开发前焦点小组，以确定项目用户的内容和技术需求。ISA还将与老年学、药理学和公共政策领域的专家合作，创建科学驱动和功能相关的信息。在这些活动之后，项目人员将开发该计划的原型-在第一阶段全面开发药物管理模块，并开发第二阶段模块的结构。将对原型和比较网站进行审查，参与者对这两个网站进行评级，以确定该计划在满足预期计划目标方面的可行性。如果原型程序通过了这些既定的可行性标准，它将被充分开发，在实验领域设计中进行测试，并在第二阶段为市场做准备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A large number of people over the age of 65 require assistance managing their medical care. Much of this responsibility falls on the relatives of older adults. The role of family caregivers has become increasingly important as our population ages and medical care becomes more complicated and fragmented. Research indicates that family members are often unprepared to manage and coordinate duties that may involve administering multiple medications and types of service. There is, therefore, a great need to help caregivers in managing the medical regimens of elderly relatives. Web-based services have the advantage of flexibility in access, tailoring of individual training needs, and multi-dimensional functionality. The focus of this project will be to develop an interactive web-based program to help caregivers with managing medication administration and medical care of their elderly relatives. ISA Associates, in partnership with a team of expert consultants and the Redmon Group, will develop and pilot test the prototype during Phase I of the project. The primary objectives of Phase I are to (1) lay the groundwork for developing a product capable of addressing the varied needs of caregivers, (2) determine the technology that is best suited for helping caregivers in a time-efficient and effective manner, and (3) conduct an analysis and test of the program to promote our scientific understanding of caregivers needs and best practices (among web-based interventions) for meeting these needs. To accomplish these objectives ISA will build on its' extensive experience in developing health-related interventions, most notably the SmartRx Program for women and the Healthy Past 50 Program for healthy workplaces. In Phase I, ISA will conduct 2 pre-development focus groups to determine the content and technical needs of program users. ISA will also work with experts in the fields of gerontology, pharmacology, and public policy to create science-driven and functionally relevant information. Following these activities, project staff will develop the prototype for the program - fully developing the medication management module during Phase I and developing the structure for the Phase II modules. A review of the prototype and a comparison website will be conducted, with participants rating the two websites to determine the feasibility of the program in meeting desired program goals. If the prototype program passes these established feasibility criteria, it will be fully developed, tested in an experimental field design, and prepared for marketing during Phase II. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project aims to develop a web-based program focusing on improving the ability of caregivers to effectively manage medication administration and medical care monitoring in the elderly. This program will provide users with the information, skills, and tools needed to prevent medical problems. Innovative technologies such as automated reminders on doctor's appointments, bi-directional or personalized messaging, and downloadable medical histories will be explored for incorporation in the program. The goal of the program will be to help organize and address the multiple management issues faced by the elderly and their caregivers. Upon successful development and testing of the program a broad-based commercialization plan will be initiated. Markets for the program include workplaces, large insurers/managed behavioral health organizations, pharmacy and pharmaceutical companies, and home-health care providers.