With the help of a gadget smaller than a cellphone, patients can receive electronic nudges to take their prescribed medication at the designated time.

VivoNex LLC recently introduced NexDose—an online medication-therapy management system that helps doctors work with their patients to provide optimal medical care. NexDose, a device that looks similar to a pager, can be programmed to remind users to keep track of, and take, up to 20 separate medications or therapies.

Lack of adherence to drug protocol contributes to more than 125,000 deaths from cardiac arrest annually, according to industry representatives. Noncompliance is also a leading reason for hospital and nursing-home admissions. With most patients saying they “forgot” as their reason for missing dosages, NexDose helps to improve adherence through intervention and incentive programs.

The device has an automated electronic medication alarm, which sounds when patients have missed a dose. Remote programming allows doctors to update frequency and dosage for patients, without requiring office visits. Connection of the digital assistant to an online database also allows doctors to monitor patients’ adherence and provides 24-hour access to their medical records.

Considering that more than 50% of prescribed medications are taken improperly, NexDose can help doctors align patient performance with prescribed instructions. NexDose’s features were designed to be user-friendly, with input from patients, doctors, researchers and pharmacists.

If used properly, NexDose can help offset rising healthcare costs, industry representatives say. With costs as much as $4,000 a year per patient less for those who adhere to their drug regimen than for those who don’t, NexDose, at a cost of less than $200, can provide “a significant return on the healthcare-dollar investment,” according to VivoNex.

For more information about the device, check VivoNex’s Web site at www.nexdose.com.