Columbia Technology Ventures

Online educational platform for improving patient outcomes after transplantation

This technology is a web-based application that provides patients with personalized information about their prescriptions and assesses patients’ knowledge of their prescriptions.

Unmet Need: Simple method to educate patients on their prescriptions after solid organ transplant

Recipients of solid organ transplants (SOTs) are often placed on a challenging medication regimen following a transplant. These regimens frequently include a medley of prescriptions that require different dosages and administration times and as such this presents a challenge to patients who lack expertise in pharmacotherapy. Because failure to adhere to these complicated regimens is associated with poor outcomes, there is a clear need to educate patients on their prescriptions after SOT. Furthermore, medical personnel may not always be on hand to advise homebound patients.

The Technology: Application to educate patients on their post-surgery prescriptions and evaluate their understanding

This technology is a web-based application that provides patients with personalized information about their prescriptions following a transplant. Patients are trained through brief videos on the indications, dosages, adverse effects, and drug interactions of their prescribed medications. In addition, this application contains assessments to track a patient’s knowledge of their prescriptions as the patient progresses through the educational content.

Published studies indicate that this platform significantly enhances patients’ understanding of their prescriptions.

Applications:

  • Prescription education for SOT patients
  • Prescription tracker
  • Patient support group and community forum
  • Health practitioner interface for patients

Advantages:

  • Intuitive educational tool
  • Improves patients’ understanding of their medications
  • Could help reduce adverse outcomes after SOT
  • Saves time for clinicians
  • Lowers chances of dangerous adverse drug interactions

Lead Inventor:

Demetra Tsapepas, Pharm.D.

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