[Medication Reminder]

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Phone Call Is Good Medication Reminder
A pilot study conducted by nurses at the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing suggests a simple telephone call is an effective reminder for elderly patients to take their medication. Terry Fulmer of the New York University-affiliated institute and colleagues designed three groups of volunteers age 65 and over who lived alone and had to take medicine for their congestive heart failure. One group simply received their medication, another also received a daily phone call, and the third a daily videophone call.

The study lasted 10 weeks and evaluated patient compliance to their medication regimen. Fulmer found no difference between the telephone and videophone groups, but both groups took their medicine much more reliably than those who did not receive a phone reminder.

Fulmer says, "With the advent of managed care and cuts in home care reimbursement, the ability to enhance medication compliance by such simple means as a telephone call is important."

-- United Press International