Philips, Spencer Health bring medication adherence solution to Europe

Spencer Smart Hub

Building on their successful partnership providing medication adherence solutions to high-acuity patients in the U.S. — Royal Philips and Spencer Health Solutions are expanding their partnership to Europe.

“Technological solutions can help our customers to improve medication adherence of their patients and to deliver better value-based care,” Derek Ross, Business Leader Population Health Management at Philips, said in a statement. “We are excited to bring a user-friendly and patient-centric solution for medication adherence to Europe together with Spencer Health Solutions.”

Already in use by patients taking multiple medications in the United States and Canada, the Spencer Smart Hub is launching in selected markets in Europe including Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland — beginning with the Netherlands in the fourth quarter of 2019. The Spencer medication adherence solution is part of a portfolio of Philips solutions to support and remotely manage elderly and patients in their homes and connect them with their care providers when needed.

The Spencer device offers a connected ecosystem: an in-home dispensing device providing pre-packaged unit dose medication, a connection to the pharmacy and an assist app for family and caregivers. Family and caregivers are notified and able to contact the patient, when the patient does not take medication. The platform has high rates of medication adherence and patient engagement in the U.S. A case study shows an average adherence rate for patients using Spencer greater than 95%, and an average patient response rate to health status questions presented with medication dispenses greater than 81%.

It is estimated that medication non-adherence contributes to nearly 200,000 premature deaths in Europe and costs of 125 billion EUR annually in excess healthcare services for European Governments.