Color System Helps Oklahomans Keep Prescriptions Organized

Thousands of Oklahomans take prescription medicines every day and, for a variety of reasons, a lot of people don’t take them properly.

But, there’s a new solution that could fix the problems, and it doesn’t cost patients a dime.

Eighty percent of the people who take medication, especially if they take more than one a day, are not taking it properly; but a new color-coded system could change that.

Chris Schiller and Economy pharmacy offers the color-coded packaging to his customers for free.

He said customers pay their normal co-pay for the prescriptions, but, rather than having to fill a pill box every week, this is a full month's worth of prescriptions all at once.

A pharmacist fills it out, so there’s no worrying about a mistake, and each time of day is in its own little bubble, so no fear of spilling them.

Schiller said, "If you've dealt with a med planner and it spills, you've got all different colored tablets on the ground, trying to figure out what went where."

If you're on over the counter medicines - like a daily baby aspirin - they can add that too.

And, if your prescription changes mid-month, they'll drive to your house and make the changes for you.

One of the big reasons people have to leave their homes and go to assisted living or nursing homes is because they can't manage their meds; this packaging can change that.

"This can keep a patient in their home longer because they can manage their medications," said Schiller.

Economy offers free delivery in Tulsa, Jenks, Broken Arrow and Muskogee, and they have real people whose only job is to answer questions about this packaging over the phone.

The idea is if we can get more people to take their medicine properly, perhaps it will prevent bigger issues down the road.