Aids for maintaining scheduled medication dosing
View Patent ↗Monitoring administration of medication to a user by receiving an identification of at least a medication and a time of administration of the medication to the user from the first sensor and storing the identification in the repository. The identification of the medication is compared to prescribed medication for the user. A time required for the medication to travel from the first location to the second location is determined. An electronic tag at the second location is monitored until the determined time has passed or the electronic tag is identified. When the determined time has passed and an electronic tag has not been identified, a notification is sent to at least one user; and when the electronic tag is identified, the ingestion of the medication is confirmed by the user and the time and electronic tag identification is stored in the repository.
1. A method of monitoring medication and administration of medication to a user containing edible electronic tags through the use of at least a first sensor at a first location and a second sensor at a second location different than the first location, the first sensor and second sensor each comprising: one or more memories, an electronic tag reader, and at least one antenna, at least one of the first and second sensors being coupled to communicate with a computer comprising: at least one processor, one or more memories, and a repository coupled to the processor, the method comprising the steps of:
the computer receiving an identification of at least a medication and a time of administration of the medication to the user from the first sensor and storing the identification in the repository;
the computer comparing the identification of the medication to prescribed medication for the user;
the computer determining a time required for the medication to travel from the first location to the second location;
the computer monitoring for the electronic tag at the second location until the determined time has passed or the electronic tag is identified;
wherein when the determined time has passed and the electronic tag has not been identified, the computer sending a notification to at least one user; and
wherein when the electronic tag is identified, the computer confirming ingestion of the medication by the user and storing the time and electronic tag identification to the repository.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is sent to an alternate user providing care of the user.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of the computer determining a signal strength to be detected at the second location.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein communication between the electronic tag and the first sensor and second sensor is through radio-frequency identification.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein communication between the electronic tag and the first sensor and second sensor is through near field communication.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first or second sensor comprises the computer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer is separately wearable by the user in a location other than the first location and the second location.
8. A computer program product for monitoring medication and administration of medication to a user containing edible electronic tags through the use of at least a first sensor at a first location and a second sensor at a second location different than the first location, the first sensor and second sensor each comprising: one or more memories, an electronic tag reader, and at least one antenna, at least one of the first and second sensors being coupled to communicate with a computer comprising: at least one processor, one or more memories, and a repository coupled to the processor, a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by the computer to perform the method comprising:
receiving, by the computer, an identification of at least a medication and a time of administration of the medication to the user from the first sensor and storing the identification in the repository;
comparing, by the computer, the identification of the medication to prescribed medication for the user;
determining, by the computer a time required for the medication to travel from the first location to the second location;
monitoring, by the computer, for the electronic tag at the second location until the determined time has passed or the electronic tag is identified;
wherein when the determined time has passed and the electronic tag has not been identified, the computer sending a notification to at least one user; and
wherein when the electronic tag is identified, the computer confirming ingestion of the medication by the user and storing the time and electronic tag identification to the repository.
9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the notification is sent to an alternate user providing care of the user.
10. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the computer program product further comprises program instructions of determining, by the computer, a signal strength to be detected at the second location.
11. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein communication between the electronic tag and the first sensor and second sensor is through radio-frequency identification.
12. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein communication between the electronic tag and the first sensor and second sensor is through near field communication.
13. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the first or second sensor comprises the computer.
14. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the computer is separately wearable by the user in a location other than the first location and the second location.
15. A computer system for monitoring medication and administration of medication to a user containing edible electronic tags through the use of at least a first sensor at a first location and a second sensor at a second location different than the first location, the first sensor and second sensor comprising: one or more memories, an electronic tag reader, and at least one antenna, at least one of the first and second sensors being coupled to communicate with a computer comprising: at least one processor, one or more memories, and a repository coupled to the processor, a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by the computer to perform the program instructions comprising:
receiving, by the computer, an identification of at least a medication and a time of administration of the medication to the user from the first sensor and storing the identification in the repository;
comparing, by the computer, the identification of the medication to prescribed medication for the user;
determining, by the computer a time required for the medication to travel from the first location to the second location;
monitoring, by the computer, for the electronic tag at the second location until the determined time has passed or the electronic tag is identified;
wherein when the determined time has passed and the electronic tag has not been identified, the computer sending a notification to at least one user; and
wherein when the electronic tag is identified, the computer confirming ingestion of the medication by the user and storing the time and electronic tag identification to the repository.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the notification is sent to an alternate user providing care of the user.
17. The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising program instructions of determining, by the computer, a signal strength to be detected at the second location.
18. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein communication between the electronic tag and the first sensor and second sensor is through radio-frequency identification.
19. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the first or second sensor comprises the computer.
20. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the computer is separately wearable by the user in a location other than the first location and the second location.