It is easy to forget to pick up a maintenance prescription or push off an annual screening. Multiple studies have been published about the impact of medical errors and lack of treatment adherence on an individual’s health outcomes. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that U.S. residents receive appropriate medical care only 55% of the time. Gaps in care ranged from those who were unaware of the impact of medication adherence or proper treatment compliance, to those who missed an annual preven­tive screening or stopped taking their beta blocker after a heart attack. It was also noted in the NEJM article that those patients who receive sophisticated support of their physician’s care plan demonstrate significantly higher treatment compliance. Patients with higher rates of compliance experience lower medical costs and fewer adverse events.

New software engines, using multiple member centric clinical data sources such as lab, pharmacy, and medical claim data, are compared to sophisticated evidence-based treatment care standards. When gaps in care such as lack of medication adherence are identified, multi-touch “alert” communications are delivered to individuals and their physicians. This may be just what is needed to help minimize the treatment adherence gap. Proactively addressing deficiencies, gaps, and omissions in care can help improve health, productivity, and quality of life.