With over 575,000 people estimated to be blind or vision impaired in Australia, and over 70 percent of them aged 65 or older, there is a pressing need for accessible tools to assist in daily tasks. Among the challenges faced by this population, medication management can be particularly daunting.

For this reason, ���سԹ�, a leading provider of medication management solutions, developed �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® Low Vision, a dose administration aid specifically designed to empower individuals with low vision to effectively manage their medications. As part of its commitment to Macular Month, an awareness campaign dedicated to raising awareness about macular degeneration, ���سԹ� aims to shed light on the importance of medication management for individuals with low vision.

“85% of people find it difficult to read medication labels due to visual impairments, leading to medication errors and incorrect dosages. The �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® Low Vision addresses this challenge by providing individuals with visual impairments the confidence to take their medications as prescribed by their doctors. By utilizing the �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® Low Vision, individuals with low vision can experience simplified medication routines and enhanced safety,” says Gerard Stevens AM, Managing Director of ���سԹ�.

 

The Webster-pak Low Vision features Low Vision Folder labels with white text on a black label, ensuring that medication information can be easily read and understood. Additionally, braille identification allows individuals to navigate and identify their medications according to the prescribed schedule, promoting independence and accuracy in medication administration.

Consolidating multiple medications into a single pack eliminates the need for multiple pill bottles, streamlining the medication routine and enabling efficient management. The organised compartments of the Webster-pak Low Vision reduce the likelihood of medication errors, providing peace of mind for individuals and their caregivers.

Recognising the need for accessible solutions, ���سԹ� developed the �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® Low Vision in collaboration with Vision Australia and Blind Citizens Australia, two prominent organisations specialising in supporting individuals with visual impairments.��

“���سԹ� is committed to improving the lives of individuals with low vision by providing practical and effective solutions,” said Gerard Stevens, CEO of ���سԹ�. “The Webster-pak Low Vision is designed with their unique needs in mind, enabling them to manage their medications independently and accurately.”

 

���سԹ� encourages individuals with low vision, caregivers, and healthcare providers to explore the benefits of the Webster-pak Low Vision as an indispensable tool for medication management. By incorporating this innovative solution into their daily routines, individuals can experience improved medication adherence, enhanced safety, and greater independence.

Webster-pak Low Vision Contact Us

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April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and World Parkinson’s Day is recognised on 11 April each year. Today in Australia, more than one person every hour will hear the words ‘you have Parkinson’s’ for the first time, making it a critical time to increase awareness about managing the disease.��

Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Managing Parkinson’s medication can be challenging, as patients often require multiple medications at specific times throughout the day. However, using Webster-paks can improve medication management and reduce the risk of medication errors.

A Webster-pak is ��a medication management system that organises medication by time of day and dose, making it easy for patients to take the right medication at the right time. Developed in partnership with , the Webster-pak 6 Dose (Parkinson’s) solution accommodates up to six dosage times in one convenient medication pack. The distinctive fuchsia-coloured folder stands out to alert the user of specific dosage times, offering greater flexibility to increase treatments as the disease progresses and the therapeutic window narrows.

“Parkinson’s medication management is critical, as missing a dose or taking the wrong medication can lead to serious consequences such as increased tremors, muscle rigidity, and even hospitalisation. However, the use of Webster-paks can help patients and caregivers avoid medication errors and ensure medication compliance,” explains Gerard Stevens AM, medication expert, and inventor of the Webster-pak.

Pharmacist Rosemarie Mundy from Priceline Pharmacy Hamilton, says that the use of Webster-paks can be an effective tool for managing medications in patients with Parkinson’s disease, improving medication adherence, reducing medication errors, and improving quality of life.

“We have seen the benefits of a Webster-pak firsthand in our customers with Parkinson’s. The system simplifies medication management for both patients and caregivers and ensures that the medication is taken on time, which is crucial in managing Parkinson’s Disease.”

The extra dosage times accommodate the high frequency medication intervals required for complex medication regimens, like Parkinson’s disease. This offers greater flexibility to increase treatments as the disease progresses and the therapeutic window narrows. Medication dosage times can be fully customised by the prescriber to meet patient requirements, allowing individuals to control their treatment, and not be fixed to standard dosage times.

The Parkinson’s Webster-pak is equally useful for aged care facilities and home use.

“The Parkinson’s Webster-pak is particularly useful in aged-care facilities where there are often numerous medication rounds to be made which can make it very challenging to deliver medication on-time every time. Feedback from the pilot was that the bright colour helped a lot as a visual prompt to give those medications first and at exactly the right time.”

The Webster-pak system is available through pharmacies and can be customised to meet the individual needs of each patient. The system is simple to use, and patients receive clear instructions on how to take their medication.

On World Parkinson’s Day, Mr. Stevens encourages patients and caregivers to talk to their pharmacist or healthcare provider about using Webster-Paks to manage their medication.

“Webster-paks offer a smart solution for Parkinson’s medication management, providing patients with peace of mind and reducing the risk of medication errors. If you or a loved one is living with Parkinson’s Disease, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about using Webster-Paks to manage your medication,” says Mr Stevens.

For further information, or to place an order, contact ���سԹ�’s Customer Service team on 1800 244 358 or email info@webstercare.com.au

Webster-pak 6 Dose (Parkinson's) Contact Us

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Almost four million or about 1 in 6 Australians have a form of that complicates how they live their lives every day. By 2030, it is projected there will be 5.4 million Australians with arthritis.��

Treatments vary depending on disease type and severity, but medication to relieve pain is commonly used and sought. However, there are many barriers to medication adherence and one that is often overlooked is the ability of the patient to easily open medication packaging.

Many people who take multiple medications, such as those with arthritis, often use medication management tools, such as a �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® to help them adhere to their regimens. But if the user has arthritis, they may find the packaging difficult to open. It can compromise their regular access to pain-relieving medication.

Founder of ���سԹ� and the inventor of the Webster-pak, Gerard Stevens AM understood these challenges when he invented two devices to specifically help people with dexterity issues such as people with arthritis.

Medication requires secure and safe storage so the materials used to perfectly seal them into blister packs needs to be of high and robust quality,” he said.

But people can sometimes have trouble pushing through a blister pack to access pills due to the build-up of pneumatic pressure within the plastic blister itself.��

We went about improving this situation and developed a simple innovation, called a concertina blister, that reduces that pressure. Now all ���سԹ� medication adherence tools such as the Webster-pak are easier to open because of this innovation,” he said.��

The patented* Concertina blisters come in a range of sizes and are ideally suited to self-medicating clients and busy nursing staff. Each blister is connected to its neighbours by twin air channels.

The air channels ‘act like a valve’. As you push down, air is expelled through the channels into the next blister, reducing the pressure needed to open the pack by 46%. The small and medium sizes also have collapsing side ridges. They allow the blister to compress like a mini accordion to make opening it even easier, explains Mr Stevens.

But sometimes extra frailty, pain or severe dexterity issues can hamper access even further. For such people, Mr Stevens developed the �ʾ���-���Dz�® – a simple device that is easy and intuitive to use. The �ʾ���-���Dz�® has been designed to make the removal of medication from �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® systems even easier and more hygienic.

When I first conceived the idea of the �ʾ���-���Dz�®, its first iteration was just a piece of PVC pipe with a base and plastic serrated tongue attached. I gave it to my late mother, who was using a Webster-pak, and asked her what she thought it was for.

Without prompting, she punctured the blister with the serrated tongue, wiggled it and let the pills drop into the cup. For me it was the perfect demonstration of proof of concept and we went full steam ahead to manufacture the Pil-Bob. It’s now used around the world,” he said.

The �ʾ���-���Dz�® is ideal for individuals who suffer from arthritis, as well as those with poor eyesight or dexterity. It is suitable for aged care staff, self-medicating residents and carers helping people to administer medication.

There is also a Cytotoxic �ʾ���-���Dz�®, used specifically to remove cytotoxic medications from �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® systems and help reduce the risk of cross contamination between medications and users.

To learn more about the Pil-Bob invention and other ���سԹ� medication adherence systems click the below.

�ʾ���-���Dz�® Accessories

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“Most routines fly out the window at the end of the year, which is really important in order to relax and have a good time. However, every year millions of Australians suffer adverse medicine events as a result of��not taking medications as prescribed. So it is really important to stick to your medication schedule. However, routine changes and cost pressures during the holiday period can put people at risk,” said Mr Stevens, who is also Managing Director of�����سԹ���and an Australian pioneer of medication management for the past 40 years.��

“This is because holidays can be a time when it is easy to lose track of normal daily schedules. There are a lot of disruptions to regular routines, and it can be hard to remember if medication has been taken. Everyone wants to relax and have a good time, but things don’t always go according to plan, especially when daily medication routines are interrupted,” explains Mr Stevens

Simple Steps to Stay Medication Safe:��

What happens if you run out of��your medications or lose them while you are on holidays?��Mr��Stevens, who��invented the iconic Webster-pak��that keeps thousands of Australians medication-safe every day,��says��a few simple steps can��help people to stay medication safe while��they��are��away from home:��

1. Ask your pharmacist for a �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® for the duration of��your��holiday��period

A Webster-pak will ensure all medications prescribed are available for the duration of the trip and��act as a��reminder��to take��the��recommended doses.��The most widely used blister-pack in Australia is the���±�����ٱ��-�貹��®, which was invented by Mr Stevens more than 35 years ago.����

“With a Webster-pak��system, the pharmacy will supply a week’s worth of medication packed into individual dosage times, so you know exactly what needs to be taken at the right time. Your pharmacy may even deliver it for you!” says Mr Stevens.��

 

2. Carry a PocketProfile Medicines List in a wallet or purse��

People can find it difficult to remember and explain exactly what medications and doses they take, especially with multiple medications. One great solution is ���سԹ�’s PocketProfile Medicines List, which can simply be printed by your pharmacist.��It contains a person’s entire medication profile, including images of medications, and neatly folds down to the size of a credit card, so it’s easy to keep in your purse or wallet. Whenever a medication changes, your pharmacist will issue you with an updated��PocketProfile.����

“Around one-in-five people aged 70 or older are on four or more medications, which they truly need. It can be difficult to remember all of the names and correct dosages,” warned Mr Stevens.��“So��having an up-to-date��list can be very useful.��Plus, in an age where things are increasingly digital, users of the PocketProfile��don’t need the latest gadgets, apps and electronic devices – it won’t run out of charge and it won’t shut down.”��

The PocketProfile also contains the person’s home pharmacy and phone number, enabling a pharmacist at a holiday destination to simply ring the home pharmacy to confirm the medications that were prescribed,��before issuing emergency replacements��to last the remainder of the holiday.��

“It is particularly��helpful in emergency situations. Medical staff can immediately see a patient’s medications and any other medical concerns, including��‘in case of emergency’ contact details,” said Mr Stevens.��

3. Speak to your pharmacist before going away.

“It is a good practice to check in with your pharmacist before going away, they are a wealth of knowledge and information,” says Mr Stevens. “It is also an opportunity to speak to them about the Pharmacist Shared Medicines List,��(PSML) a consolidated list of medicines prepared by a pharmacist and uploaded to a patient’s . It can help to reduce medication-related problems, specifically those experienced by older Australians.”��

 

Reference:��

1. Medication safety in acute care in Australia: where are we now? Part 1 (Review 2002-2008), Aug 2009��

To learn more or to speak to a ���سԹ� specialist, contact us on 1800 244 358

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We all want the best possible health outcomes for our patients.  For many seniors, the ability to remain independent and at home means being able to manage complex medication regimes. While a (DAA) offers this initial guidance, some patients may require further support.

Here are 4 supportive ���سԹ� tools, that can help promote positive medication regimes in the home and community:   

�ʾ���-���Dz�®

Get the pills without the spills!

As a pharmacist, there is zero tolerance for error when preparing patient medications. We understand the attention and care involved in packing and checking each �±�����ٱ��-�貹��® medication pack. Which is why it’s so important that your patients take their medications just as you’ve prepared.  This means without spills. 

A seemingly simple task, such as removing medications from a blister pack, can be challenging for those suffering from poor eyesight, arthritis, or poor dexterity.

The �ʾ���-���Dz�® device is designed to make removing pills from a Webster-pak a safe and easy process. Collecting medication becomes simplified when using the Pil-Bob. When the foil is pierced with the device’s serrated tip, medications drop directly into the cup.

�±�����ٱ��-�貹��® Fridge Magnet

Keep medications in sight and never miss a dose.

The fridge is one of the most frequented places in the home – even more so in the midst of a pandemic. For those customers struggling to remember to take their medications a specially designed Webster-pak Fridge Magnet can be used to hang, and keep medications visually prominent at all times.

PocketProfile Medicines List

You could save a life.

In times of emergency, having access to a patient’s list of current medications can be crucial. For a patient to be treated in the most efficient and accurate manner, these details will be known to the relevant health professional.

The PocketProfile Medicines List is small enough to be kept in a wallet. It can easily be printed via your ���سԹ� MMS software.  MMS can also prompt updated reprints when a change is made to your patient’s profile – a service valued by the customer.

When I took the PocketProfile into Emergency, the registered nurse loved it because it included the generic name.

-Ian Pavey, Community Patient NSW

Clamshell-pak Day Out

Going out for the day?

Customers like practical solutions when it comes to supporting their medication regime. The Clamshell-pak Day Out offers a secure, compact and hygienic solution for housing medications when on-the-go.

For any DAA, simplicity is key. The colour-coded storage compartments for breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime help to easily identify dosage times.

Patients can simply transfer required medications into the day out pack, leaving remaining medications in their Webster-pak.

Medication management doesn’t have to be tricky. A little bit of extra support, and fully utilising the tools available, can make all the difference to a customer’s health and satisfaction.

For further details, or to place an order for any of these supportive tools, contact us on 1800 244 358.

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