Ben Long, MD, and Weston Blakeslee, PhD discuss how personalized text reminders significantly improve prescription adherence in heart failure patients and the critical role pharmacists play in reinforcing engagement.
In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Ben Long, MD, director of Hospital Medicine at Magnolia Regional Health Center, and Weston Blakeslee, PhD, vice president of Clinical Intelligence at DrFirst, discussed findings from a recent study that they authored, which demonstrated that personalized SMS reminders significantly improve prescription fulfillment among patients with heart failure. The study showed that patients who engaged with text reminders were approximately 19% more likely to fill their discharge prescriptions, highlighting a scalable strategy to improve adherence in a high-risk population.
“Adherence implies understanding, alignment, and active engagement with care—and that engagement is what ultimately drives better patient outcomes.” - Ben Long, MD
Long emphasized the distinction between “compliance” and “adherence,” noting that true adherence reflects patient understanding, alignment, and active engagement in their care. He explained that improved adherence plays a critical role in reducing 30-day hospital readmissions and emergency department visits, key outcomes examined in the study. Because most patients do not naturally engage with their care, targeted digital interventions offer an opportunity to bridge gaps in access and engagement, particularly for patients facing social or logistical barriers. Long stressed that bringing care “to the patient” through mobile technology can help advance equity and improve outcomes, even though smartphone access is not universal.
Blakeslee described how the engagement platform addresses common barriers to prescription fulfillment, beginning with forgetfulness. Patients receive an SMS notification shortly after their prescription is sent, providing a timely prompt to visit the pharmacy. The platform also delivers educational content explaining the importance of the medication, reinforcing adherence through patient understanding. Additional features allow patients to schedule pickup reminders and access savings programs, addressing cost-related barriers that frequently prevent prescription fills.
Together, the experts highlighted how pharmacists can leverage digital engagement tools to support patients after discharge, reinforce education, and reduce care gaps. By integrating these technologies into transitions of care, pharmacists are well positioned to improve adherence, prevent readmissions, and enhance long-term outcomes for patients with heart failure.
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