Health Care Experts Seek To Improve Rx Drug Compliance
Health care experts recently have been working to reduce the number of U.S. residents who do not comply with prescription drug instructions, which costs up to $290 billion in medical expenses annually. U.S. Pharmacopeia -- a not-for-profit organization that sets quality and safety standards for FDA-approved drugs -- is aiming to simplify, clarify and standardize drug labels by using simple words, big fonts and clear instructions on pill bottles. Other companies are designing ways to remind patients to take their medications, including sending text messages to patients, using a wireless pill bottle that lights up and beeps and educating patients on possible side effects of taking their medicines incorrectly.
- "Group Tries To Simplify Drug Labels To Help People Get the Proper Doses" (Andrews, Kaiser Health News/Washington Post, 2/14).