GUIDE HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CHAPTER 3 – Entrepreneurial learning in Europe 3.1. Cases collected by the partners 3.1.1. University of Turku - Finland Case nr 1 in entreprise Title Place Organization/Institution Description
Medicine-dispensing robot Salo, Finland Evondos Oy The Evondos service, a medicine-dispensing robot at its core, strives to ensure a high standard of pharmacotherapy by guiding homecare clients in taking the correct medicine in the prescribed dose always at the right time. The service employs mechanical dose distribution sachets provided by pharmacies. The robot is able to read the time for administering medication from the dose sachet text field and offer the medicine accordingly at the correct time. In order to minimise the risk for any problems related to the homecare client taking their medication, the robot instructs the client in taking medications, both through spoken instructions and audible signals, and through displaying textual instructions on the device screen, along with contextual indicator lights. In case the homecare client for some reason does not take the prescribed dose of medicine, the robot inserts the untaken dose into a locked medicine container in order to maintain the safety of medication. In such a case, the robot also informs the care organisation of the incident, and makes an entry accordingly also in a system log. The contents of the locked medicine container can be accessed solely by authorised care workers. The care organisation and care staff responsible are able to monitor the progress of the pharmacotherapy in real time via the control system of the device, and also remotely online via a mobile phone application. It is also possible to grant the relatives of the client an access to this information. (Source: www.evondos.com)
Benefits (what has changed thanks to this project and for whom)
Reduced need for calls of homecare workers at clients’ (e.g. elderly people) homes. Right-timing and control of pharmacotherapy: medicines are taken at the right time, and care staff are automatically informed if the medicine has not been taken. ● Drug safety: the robot dispenses only the intended dose ● Result: improved capability of patients to live autonomously The user interface of the robot has been designed to be easy for the clients to use: the robot has one large control button, and it
